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HISTORY 


OF    THE 


TOWN   OF  EXETER 


NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


By  CHARLES  H.   BELL. 


EXETER: 
THE  QUARTER-MILLENNIAL  YEAR. 

1888. 


PRESS  OF 
E.   FARWELL  &   CO. 
BOSTON. 


PREFACE. 


My  chief  aim  iu  preparing  this  history  has  been  to  make  it 
useful.  I  have  quoted  largely  from  the  manuscript  records  of  the 
town,  because  they  are  liable  to  be  destroyed,  and  what  is  in 
print  is  safe.  For  the  same  reason,  and  for  the  benefit  of  gene- 
alogists, I  have  given  many  lists  of  early  names. 

A  town  history  is  valuable  almost  in  proportion  to  the  accessi- 
bility of  its  contents.  For  the  sake  of  ease  of  reference  I  have 
made  a  general  classification  of  subjects  in  the  present  work  ; 
have  introduced  numerous  sub-titles  ;  have  arranged  all  consider- 
able lists  of  names  in  alphabetical  order ;  have  given  a  full  table 
of  contents  at  the  beginning  and  a  sufficient  index  at  the  end. 
Classification  necessitates  some  repetition,  but  that  is  of  small 
consequence  in  comparison  with  the  advantages  of  the  method. 

A  complete  genealogical  history  of  Exeter  is  a  desideratum. 
But  it  would  be  a  work  of  years.  In  this  volume  will  be  found 
all  the  information  deemed  most  valuable  to  the  investigator  of 
family  history,  which  is  contained  in  the  records  of  the  town ; 
to  wit :  all  the  "  family  registers  "  iu  auy  books  ;  all  the  marriages 
and  births  in  the  first  (oldest)  book,  and  all  the  deaths  in  the 
same,  before  the  year  1800. 

In  addition  to  these  I  have  added,  from  other  sources,  the  fol- 
lowing :  excerpts  from  the  records  of  old  Norfolk  county,  Massa- 
chusetts ;  a  list  of  all  the  baptisms  of  children  in  Exeter,  by  the 
Rev.  Woodbridge  Odliu,  between  1743  and  1763  ;  a  list  of  all  the 
publishments  of  intentions  of  marriage  in  the  town  between  1783 
and  1800.     These  lists  may  properly  be  termed  new,  as  they  are 


iv  PREFACE. 

taken  from  manuscripts  which  have  not  been  open  to  public 
inspection. 

The  orthography  of  proper  names  has  been  a  source  of  per- 
plexity. A  uniform  rule  is  hard  to  fix  and  harder  to  follow.  In 
spite  of  the  best  intentions  variations  have  crept  in.  My  only 
consolation  is  that  I  have  probably  not  spelt  names  in  half  so 
many  ways  as  their  owners  did. 

My  thanks  are  especially  due  to  Professor  Bradbury  L.  Cilley 
for  the  unlimited  use  of  the  manuscripts  of  his  grandfather,  the 
Hon.  John  Kelly,  and  of  the  late  William  Smith,  Esq.,  each  of 
whom  planned  a  histor^^  of  the  town  ;  also  to  John  Ward  Dean, 
Esq.,  of  Boston,  and  to  my  townsmen  Messrs.  George  W,  Dear- 
born, John  T.  Perry,  William  H.  Belknap,  Edward  Giddings  and 
many  others  who  have  most  obligingly  aided  me  in  obtaining 
information. 

It  would  be  idle  to  suppose  that  this  work  is  free  from  mistakes. 
In  writing  the  history  of  a  town  the  difficulties  may  be  said  to  be 
in  a  direct  ratio  to  the  remoteness  of  the  period  treated  of. 
Exeter  being  two  hundred  and  fifty  years  old.  the  information 
respecting  it  has  had  to  be  gleaned  from  a  multitude  of  sources, 
and  the  liabilities  to  errors  of  all  kinds  are  correspondingly 
increased.  The  greatest  care  and  pains  have  been  bestowed, 
however,  to  insure  accuracy,  and  it  is  hoped  that  mistakes  Avill 
not  be  found  to  be  immerous  or  important. 

My  townsmen  will  of  course  note  many  omissions,  due  for  the 
most  part  to  limited  time  and  space.  It  is  not  believed  that  they 
will  seriously  detract  from  the  value  of  the  work  to  others. 

Charles  H.  Bell. 


CONTENTS. 


MUNICIPAL. 


CHAPTER  I. 


Exeter  as  an  Independent  Republic.  —  The  Rev.  John  "V^Tieelwright ; 
the  deeds  from  the  Indians;  the  disputed  Indian  deed  of  1629;  trials  of 
the  opening  year;  the  first  church;  another  Indian  deed;  the  Combina- 
tion ;  the  first  criminal  proceeding  ;  the  Elders'  oath  ;  the  oath  of  the 
people  ;  first  allotment  of  lands  ;  notices  of  early  settlers  ;  early  enact- 
ments.       .         .         •         .         .         •         •         •         •         •  3  —  43 

CHAPTER  II. 

Exeter  under  the  Massachusetts  Government.  —  The  conditions  of 
annexation  ;  the  fishery  ;  the  care  of  the  cattle  ;  the  staple  commodity  ; 
project  for  a  change  of  government ;  number  and  names  of  inhabi- 
tants  44  —  61 

CHAPTER  III. 

Exeter  under  the  New  Hampshire  Provincial  Government. — 
Gove's  rebellion  against  Cranfield  ;  Robert  Tufton  Mason's  land  suits  ; 
resistance  to  illegal  taxation ;  the  province  -without  a  government ; 
specimens  of  early  town  accounts;  the  mast-tree  riot  of  1734;  a  dis- 
orderly election  ;  demonstration  against  the  stamp  act  ;  patriotic  action 
of  the  town  in  1770;  another  patriotic  expression  of  the  town;  help  for 
the  suffering  poor  of  Boston;  the  census  of  1775;  the  earliest  written 
Constitution 62  —  89 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Exeter  under  the  State  Government.  —  The  Association  test  of 
1776;  first  reading  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  ;  the  evils  of  a 
paper  currency ;  the  paper  money  mob  of  1786  ;  the  Convention  for  the 
adoption  of  the  Federal  Constitution  ;  the  visit  of  Washington ;  court- 
house, fire  engine,  library,  etc. ;  honors  to  the  memory  of  Washington  ; 
temperance;  War  of  1812;  prayer  in  town  meetings;  support  of  the 
poor  ;  celebration  of  bi-centennial  anniversary  ;  re-naming  streets  ;  new 
court-house ;  lighting  streets  ;  sidewalks  ;  steam  fire  engine ;  water 
works.         .         .         .         •         .         •         •         •         •         .90  —  111 


Vi  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  V. 

Boundaries  and  Divisions  ;  Roads  and  Bridges.  —  The  Hampton 
bound  of  1653  ;  the  Dover  bound  of  1653  ;  Captain  Thomas  AViggin's 
deed  of  gift ;  enlargement  of  Exeter  bounds  ;  Squamscot  Patent  under 
Exeter  government ;  townships  carved  from  Exeter  territory ;  highways, 
their  location,  laying  out  and  repairs ;    bridges ;    the   village    streets. 

112  —  128 

CHAPTER  VI. 

The  Common  Lands.  —  Lands  of  Edward  and  William  Hilton ;  grants  of 
town  lands  ;  list  of  distributees  of  land  as  reported  in  1725  ;  proceedings 
to  hasten  a  distribution  ;  final  distribution.  .         .         .      129 — 146 

CHAPTER  Vn. 

Officers  of  the  Town.  —  List  of  toMn  officers  :  rulers  ;  assistant  rulers  ; 
town  clerks  ;  selectmen  ;  moderators  ;  representatives.        .      147  —  152 


ECCLESIASTICAL. 
CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  First  Religious  Society.  —  Attempts  to  get  a  pastor,  after  j\Ir. 
Wheelwright's  departure  ;  Mr.  Dudley  engaged ;  new  house  of  worship  ; 
difficulty  of  paying  salary ;  fears  of  losing  Mr.  Dudley ;  death  of  Mr. 
Dudley ;  Elder  Wentworth  temjjorarily  employed.      .         .      155 — 170 

CHAPTER  IX. 

The  First  Society  and  its  Offshoots. — A  new  meeting-house;  re- 
organization of  the  church ;  death  of  Mr.  Clark  ;  engagement  of  Mr. 
John  Odlin  ;  parish  of  Newmarket  set  off;  a  new  meeting-house  ; 
Epping  parish  set  off;  Brentwood  parish  set  off;  Rev.  Woodbridge 
Odlin,  colleague  ;  second  parish  incorporated ;  succession  of  pastors, 
Isaac  Mansfield,  William  F.  Rowland,  John  Smith,  William  Williams, 
Joy  H.  Fairchild,  Roswell  D.  Hitchcock,  William  D.  Hitchcock,  Nathan- 
iel Lasell,  Elias  Nason,  John  O.  Barrows,  Swift  Byington.       171  —  193 

CHAPTER  X. 

The  Second  Parish;  Other  Religious  Societies.  —  Rev.  Daniel 
Rogers;  his  epitaph;  Joseph  Brown  ;  Isaac  Hurd  ;  Asa  Mann;  Orpheus 
T.  Lanphear  ;  John  W.  Chickering,  Jr. ;  George  E.  Street ;  Quakers ; 
the  Baptist  society ;  the  Universalist  society ;  the  Christian  society ; 
the  Methodist  society ;  the  Advent  society ;  the  Roman  Catholic 
society;  the  Unitarian  society  ;  the  Episcopal  society.       .       194  —  211 


CONTENTS.  vii 

MILITARY. 

CHAPTER  XL 

The  Indian  and  French  Wars.  —  Philip's  war;  King  William's  -war; 
services  of  Exeter  men ;  a  fortunate  escape  ;  Queen  Anne's  war  ;  Colonel 
Wintkrop  Hilton's  expeditions  ;  his  death;  occurrences  of  1712;  assault 
upon  the  Rollins  family  ;  the  Louisburg  expedition ;  roll  of  Captain 
Light's  company;  occurrences  of  1746;  the  Crown  Point  expeditions  ; 
Captain  Nathaniel  Folsom  at  Lake  George  ;  capitulation  of  Fort  William 
Henry;  inventory  of  Major  John  Oilman's  losses;  later  expeditions 
against  French  posts ;  the  Exeter  Cadets.  .         .         .     215  —  239 

CHAPTER  XII. 

The  Revolution  and  the  War  of  1812.  —  The  powder  from  Fort  Wil- 
liam and  Mary ;  the  Exeter  volunteers  march  to  Cambridge  ;  Exeter 
soldiers  in  1775;  in  1776;  in  1777;  in  1778;  in  1779;  in  1780;  in 
1781 ;  supplies  furnished  by  the  town  to  soldiers'  families;  the  War  of 
1812;  roll  of  Captain  Nathaniel  Oilman's  company;  roll  of  Captain 
James  Thom's  company. 240  —  259 

CHAPTER  Xin. 

The  War  for  the  Union. —  Exeter  soldiers  in  the  several  New  Hampshire 
regiments  ;  in  the  military  or  naval  service.  Notices  of  officers,  Oen. 
Oilman  Marston ;  Lieutenant  Colonel  Henry  H.  Pearson ;  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Moses  N.  Collins  ;  Captain  Albert  M.  Perkins.     .       260  —  282 

EDUCATIONAL. 
CHAPTER  XIV. 

The  Schools  and  Academies.  —  Law  of  INLassachusetts  and  New  Hamp- 
shire ;  list  of  early  instructors  ;  town  orders  concerning  schools;  forma- 
tion of  school  districts ;  the  Robinson  Female  Seminary ;  the  Phillips 
Exeter  Academy ;  the  Female  Academy.         ...         .         285  —  300 

CHAPTER  XV. 

The  Press.  —  The  earliest  newspaper ;  first  New  Testament  printed  in  the 
State  ;  samples  of  early  journalism  ;  the  NcAvs-Letter  ;  the  Oazette  and 
present  publications ;  contributors  to  the  press.         .         .         301  —  314 

INDUSTRIAL. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Mills  and  Manufactures. — The  first  saw-mill ;  Pickpocket  falls  granted ; 
CraAvley's  falls;  Pickpocket;  paper-mills;  powder-mills;  "falls  of  the 
Squamscot ;"    Exeter    Manufacturing     Company;     other    water-mills. 

317  —  334 


viii  CONTEXTS. 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Busixiiss  AND  Trade.  —  Lumbering;  ship-building;  pottery;  duck  manu- 
factory ;  saddlery  and  carriages ;  hats;  ^vool ;  leather;  the  earlier  mer- 
chants;  banks;  insurance  companies 3oo  —  348 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Judges  and  Lawyers. —John  Oilman;  Robert  Wadleigh  ;  Kinsley  Hall ; 
Peter  Coffin ;  Richard  Hilton ;  Xicholas  Oilman ;  Samuel  Oilman ; 
X'icholas  Perryman ;  X'^oah  Emery ;  William  Parker  ;  John  Pickering  ; 
Oliver  Peabody ;  Nathaniel  Parker  ;  Oeorge  Sullivan  ;  Moses  Hodgdon; 
Solon  Stevens ;  Jeremiah  Smith  ;  James  Thom  ;  Joseph  Tilton  ;  Jotham 
Lawrence  ;  Stephen  Peabody  ;  Jeremiah  Fellowes  ;  Oeorge  Lamson  ; 
AA'illiam  Smith ;  Oliver  W.  B.  Peabody  ;  John  Sullivan  ;  Samuel  T. 
Oilman;  James  Bell;  John  Kelly;  Timothy  Farrar;  Amos  Tuck; 
Henry  F.  French  ;  John  S.  Wells  ;  William  W.  Stickney  ;  Alva  Wood  ; 
Oeorge  C.  Peavey ;  other  lawyers.  ....         349 — 377 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Medical  Mex.  — Thomas Deane ;  Josiah  Oilman;  Dudley  Odlin  ;  Robert 
Oilman  ;  Eliphalet  Hale ;  John  Oiddingc  ;  John  Odlin  ;  Nathaniel  Oil- 
man ;  Caleb  O.  Adams;  Joseph  Tilton;  Samuel  Tenney ;  X'athaniel 
Peabody ;  William  Parker,  Jr.,  X'athan  X^orlh ;  AVilliam  Perry  ;  David 
W.  Oorham  ;  Samuel  B.  Swett ;  other  physicians.   .         .         378  —  389 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Families  and  Individuals.  —  Dudley  family;  Folsom  family;  Leavitt 
family;  Thing  family  ;  Conner  family  ;  Lyford  family ;  Robinson  family; 
Smith  families  ;  Odlin  family  ;  Barker,  Colcord,  DoUoft',  Kimball,  Shute 
and  others.  Jonathan  Cass;  Enoch  Poor;  John  Rogers;  James  Bur- 
ley  ;  Samuel  Hatch ;  Seth  Walker  ;  Joseph  Pearson  ;  Waddy  V.  Cobbs; 
John  C.  Long.     The  colored  population.  .         .         .         390  —  399 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

Homicides;  Burial-places;  The  "White  Caps."  —  Mrs.  Willix ;  John- 
son; John  Wadleigh  ;  Mrs.  Ferguson;  first  four  public  burial-places; 
the  cemetery  ;  other  burial-places.  The  "  White  caps  ;"  their  search  for 
hidden  treasure.       ........         403  —  414 


CONTENTS.  ix 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Things  New  and  Old.  —  Trees:  the  oldest  elm;  early  houses ;  the  Clif- 
ford house ;  Dean  house  ;  Ladd  house ;  Rowland  house  ;  Odiorne 
house;  Hildreth  house  ;  Peabodj- house  ;  Oilman  house  ;  Tilton  house  ; 
other  old  houses  ;  statistics;  societies;  localities.    .         .         415  —  428 

APPENDIX. 

I.  The  Indian  deed  of  1629  to  Wheelwright  and  others.  II.  Transcripts  of 
the  Exeter  Records,  1639  to  1644.  III.  Extracts  from  Hon.  Jeremiah 
Smith's  bi-centennial  address,  183S.  ....         431  —  469 

GENEALOGICAL. 

Family  Registers,  from  the  Exeter  Records.  Marriages,  from  the  Exe- 
ter Records.  Births,  from  the  town  Records.  Deaths,  prior  to  the 
year  1800,  from  the  town  Records.  Births,  Deaths  and  Marriages 
from  the  earliest  town  Records.  Marriages,  Births  and  Deaths 
from  the  Records  of  old  Norfolk  county,  in  Massachusetts.  Baptisms 
of  children  in  the  First  society,  from  1743  to  1763.  Publishments  of 
intentions  of  marriage,  from  1783  to  1800.  .         .         .  3 §2 


CORRECTIONS. 


Page  149,  Thomas    Deane,   Nathaniel   Webster  and   Josiah    Oilman   were 
selectmen  in  1741. 
"      151,  John  Oilman  was  representative  in  1697  as  well  as  in  1693.  ^^ 
"      219,  line  38,  for  Huntson,  read  Huntoon. 
"      220,  note,  for  Edward,  read  N'athaniel,  Swasey.  . 
"      239,  line  13,  for  lieutenant.  Colonel,  read  lieutenant  colonel. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Fac-simile  of  Exeter    "  Combination  " 

re-subscribed  April  2,  1640 
Plan  of  the  village  of  Exeter  in  1802 
Exeter  with  its  sub-divisions 
Plan  of  the  township  of  Exeter  in  1802 


drawn  July  4,  1639; 

•                 ■                 •                 •                 ■ 

Frontis. 

•                 •                 •                 •                 • 

Page  103 

•                 •                 •                 •                 • 

"      121 

■                 ■                 •                 •                 • 

"      317 

MUNICIPAL. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


CHAPTER  I. 

EXETER  AS  AN  INDEPENDENT  REPUBLIC. 

The  river  Pascataqua  which  forms  the  bound,  next  the  sea, 
between  New  Hampshire  and  Maine,  may,  with  its  tributaries,  be 
rudely  represented  by  a  man's  left  hand  and  wrist  laid  upon  a 
table,  back  upwards  and  fingers  wide  apart.  The  thumb  would 
stand  for  the  Salmon  Falls  or  Newichwannock  river,  the  forefinger 
for  Bellamy  river,  the  second  finger  for  Oyster  river,  the  third  for 
Lamprey  river  and  the  fourth  for  Exeter  or  Squamscot  river ; 
while  the  palm  of  the  hand  would  represent  the  Great  Bay,  into 
which  most  of  those  streams  pour  their  waters,  and  the  wrist  the 
Pascataqua  proper. 

Before  the  foundation  of  Exeter  there  were  but  two  organized 
settlements  within  the  limits  of  New  Hampshire,  the  one  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Pascataqua  about  Strawberr}'  Bank,  now  Ports- 
mouth ;  the  other  about  Dover  at  the  confluence  of  the  Salmon 
Falls  and  the  Pascataqua.  Both  settlements  were  straggling, 
small  and  weak,  being  wholly  self-ruled,  for  as  yet  there  was  no 
general  government  in  New  Hampshire.  The  Europeans  who 
composed  the  population  had  most  of  them  come  thither  to  better 
their  worldly  condition  by  fishery  and  trade,  and  with  no  purpose 
of  a  religious  character.  The  greater  number  of  them  were  bred 
in  the  English  church,  and  had  little  sympathy  with  the  Puritans 
of  the  Massachusetts  Bay. 

Besides  the  inhabitants  of  these  two  settlements  there  were  a 
few  scattered  dwellers  along  the  Pascataqua  and  its  aflfluents. 
Two  of  the  most  prominent  of  these,  Edward  Hilton  and  Thomas 
Wiggin,  belong  to  Exeter  history.  Hilton  was  originally  a  fish- 
monger in  the  city  of  London,  and  emigrated  to  this  country  in 
1623,  doubtless  with  the  expectation  of  engaging  in  the  fishery 
here.  He  settled  in  Dover  at  what  is  now  styled  the  Point,  and 
after  seven  years  obtained  from  the  Council  of  Pl3niiouth,  under 
the  authority  of  the  British  Crown,  a  grant  of  lands  on  the  upper 


4  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Pascataqufi,  known  as  the  Hilton  or  Squamscot  Patent.  It  em- 
braced Dover  Point  and  a  belt  of  territory  south  of  the  Pascataqua 
and  east  of  the  Squamscot,  three  miles  in  breadth,  and  extending 
to  the  falls  of  the  latter  river,  at  what  is  now  Exeter.  This  grant 
afterwards  passed  into  the  hands  of  a  company  who  appointed 
Captain  Thomas  Wiggin  their  agent. 

Hilton  and  Wiggin  had  before  1640  both  quitted  Dover,  and 
planted  themselves  on  opposite  sides  of  the  Squamscot,  and  within 
three  or  four  miles  of  the  falls.  There  they  were  found  by  the 
company  who  settled  Exeter,  on  their  arrival,  or  soon  afterward, 
Hilton  domiciled  in  what  is  now  South  Newmarket,  and  Wiggin 
in  what  is  now  Stratham.  Both  were  men  of  enterprise  and  natu- 
ral leaders,  and  each,  no  doubt,  had  his  retainers  about  him.  Hil- 
ton was  attached,  in  a  quiet  way,  to  the  observances  of  the  Eng- 
lish church,  and,  consequently,  was  held  in  small  consideration  by 
the  Puritan  authorities  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  when  they  came 
subsequently  to  rule  over  the  New  Hampshire  settlements.  Wig- 
gin's  religious  professions  harmonized  more  nearly  with  their  own, 
and  he  consequently  enjoyed  a  much  greater  share  of  their  appro- 
bation and  confidence. 

If  we  are  to  credit  tradition  there  were  three  other  persons 
dwelling  at  the  falls  of  the  Squamscot  before  the  arrival  of 
the  company  of  Wheelwright  in  1638.  These  were  Ealph  Hall, 
Thomas  Leavitt  and  Thomas  Wilson,  all  of  whom  were  located  on 
the  eastern  side  of  the  river,  while  most  of  the  other  early  comers 
chose  the  western  side.  Hall  and  Leavitt  were  young  men,  and 
may,  for  aught  we  know,  have  been  tlie  pioneers  of  the  settle- 
ment ;  but  the  antecedents  of  Wilson  leave  little  room  to  doubt 
that  he  was  of  Wheelwright's  company. 

The  falls  of  the  Squamscot,  round  which  the  village  of  Exeter 
has  clustered  from  the  beginning,  are  formed  by  the  passage  of  a 
beautiful  inland  stream  over  a  succession  of  ledges  into  a  broad 
basin  below,  where  its  waters  mingle  with  the  tides  from  the  sea. 
This  was  a  well  known  fishing  place  of  the  Indians.  The  country 
around  was  covered,  for  the  most  part,  with  dense  forests,  broken 
here  and  there  by  tracts  of  natural  meadow,  and  by  marshes  bor- 
dering upon  the  tide-water. 

On  the  third  day  of  April,  1638,  the  Eev.  John  Wheelwright 
purchased  l:)y  a  deed  from  the  local  sagamore  and  his  son,  a  re- 
lease of  the  right  of  the  Indian  occupants  to  this  localit}^  and  to  a 
tract  of  the  surrounding  country,  thirty  miles  in  extent,  reaching 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  5 

from  the  Dorthern  boundary  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  ou  the 
south,  to  the  Pascataqua  patents  on  the  east,  and  on  the  north  to 
Oyster  river.  His  purpose  in  making  the  purchase  was  to  begin 
a  settlement,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Exeter.* 

THE    REV.    JOHN    M^HEELWRIGHT. 

Mr.  Wheelwright,  who  is  justly  styled  the  founder  of  Exeter, 
deserves  a  more  extended  notice.  He  was  born  in  or  near  the 
hamlet  of  Saleby  in  Lincolnshire,  England,  probably  in  the  early 
part  of  the  year  1592.  His  father  was  a  man  of  sufficient  means 
to  afford  him  a  university  education,  and  to  leave  him  heir  to  some 
freehold  property.  At  Sidney  College,  Cambridge,  he  gained  his 
bachelor's  degree  in  1614,  and  that  of  M.  A.  four  years  later. 
One  of  his  fellow  collegians  was  the  famous  Oliver  Cromwell,  who 
afterwards  bore  testimony  to  his  athletic  vigor  and  pluck,  "that 
he  was  more  afraid  of  meeting  AVheelwright  at  football  than  he 
had  been  since  of  meeting  an  army  in  the  field,  for  he  was  infalli- 
bly sure  of  being  tripped  up  by  him."  Mr.  Wheelwright  was 
married  on  the  eighth  of  November,  1G21,  to  Marie,  daughter  of 
the  Rev.  Thomas  Storre,  vicar  of  Bilsby,  in  the  county  of  Lincoln  ; 
and  on  the  ninth  of  April,  1623,  having  taken  holy  orders,  on  the 
death  of  his  father-in-law,  succeeded  him  in  the  vicarage.  He  is 
described  as  a  faithful  and  zealous  minister  ;  but  like  many  able 
and  conscientious  men  of  his  time,  he  was  led  to  question  the  au- 
thority of  certain  dogmas  and  observances  of  the  English  church, 
until  he  found  himself  at  length  arrayed  in  the  ranks  of  the  Puri- 
tans, so  that  after  about  ten  years  he  was  silenced  by  the  ecclesi- 
astical powers,  for  non-conformity.  He  continued  to  reside  in 
England  for  two  or  three  years  afterwards  and  then  emigrated  to 
the  new  world.  He  took  with  him  his  wife  by  a  second  marriage, 
Mary,  daughter  of  Edward  Hutchinson  of  Alford,  and  his  five 
children,  and  landed  in  Boston  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  May,  1636. 

There  he  soon  became  highly  esteemed,  insomuch  that  after 
about  six  months,  it  was  proposed  by  some  of  the  members  of  the 
Boston  church  that  he  should  be  settled  over  them  as  a  second 
teacher,  in  conjunction  with  the  Rev.  John  Wilson  and  the  Rev. 


»  Of  course  this  name  was  borrowed  from  Exeter  in  England.  The  cause  of  its  se- 
lection is  unknown.  There  is  no  evidence  that  Wheelwright  ever  had  any  acquaint- 
ance with  the  English  Exeter,  and  the  only  one  of  his  companions  who  is  known  to 
have  come  from  that  place,  or  its  vicinity,  was  Godfrey  Dearborn. 


(3  .  HISTOPvY  OF  EXETER. 

John  Cotton,  two  of  the  most  eminent  divines  of  the  colony.  But 
upon  some  objection  beiug  made  to  this,  Mr.  Wheelwright  was 
placed  in  charge  of  a  new  church  gathered  at  Mount  Wollaston, 
afterwards  Braiutree  and  now  Quincy  ;  and  i-eceived  a  grant  of 
two  liundred  acres  of  land  there. 

About  this  time  Anne  Hutchinson,  a  woman  of  keen  wit  and 
dominant  disposition,  the  wife  of  William  Hutchinson,  a  brother 
of  Wheelwright's  second  wife,  rendered  herself  a  conspicuous 
fiffure  in  the  reli2,ious  circles  of  Boston.  With  the  fondness  for 
theological  speculations  which  was  characteristic  of  that  age,  she 
had  adopted  some  opinions  not  in  unison  with  those  of  the  major- 
ity of  the  ministers  and  elders  of  the  Massachnsetts  Bay,  and  was 
in  the  habit  of  enunciating  them  in  the  shape  of  criticisms  on  their 
sermons  and  doctrines,  at  weekly  meetings  of  the  sisterhood  held 
at  her  house  in  Boston.  These  heterodox  opinions  were  the  merest 
theoretic  abstractions  imaginable,  such  as  that  "the  person  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  dwells  in  a  justified  person,"  and  that  "  no  sanctifica- 
tion  can  help  to  evidence  to  us  our  justification,"  and  the  like,  and 
had  no  possible  relation  to  the  practical  concerns  of  life.  Their 
opponents,  however,  gave  them  the  bad  name  of  "Antinomian." 
But  Wheelwright  also  professed  the  same  views  in  the  main,  and 
Cotton  timidly  indorsed  them,  while  a  large  proportion  of  the 
members  of  the  Boston  church  approved  them.  All  this  was  bit- 
terly unpalatable  to  the  authorities  of  church  and  state  (who  were 
substantially  the  same)  in  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  and  they  took 
counsel  together  how  to  suppress  the  rising  heresy.  Excommuni- 
cation of  the  offenders  was  the  obvious  remedy  ;  iDut  as  l)y  far  the 
greater  part  of  the  Boston  church  were  in  sympathy  with  them, 
there  was  danger  that  in  the  attempt  to  apply  that  remedy  the 
movers  might  find  themselves  victims  instead  of  victors.  They 
therefore  resolved  on  other  and  safer  measures. 

Apparently  every  utterance  of  Wheelwright  was  strictly 
watched,  to  find  cause  of  accusation  against  him.  At  length  the 
desired  pretext  was  obtained,  in  a  sermon  which  he  preached  on  a 
Fast  day  in  Boston,  on  the  nineteenth  of  January,  1636-7.  It  is 
impossible  for  any  unprejudiced  person  of  our  time  to  discover  in 
this  production,  which  is  still  extant,  anything  to  cause  alarm  to 
the  most  timorous  heart,  but  to  the  jaundiced  eyes  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts rulers  of  that  day,  it  seemed  to  be  filled  with  threatenings 
of  ruin  and  destruction.  And  tliey  determined  that  out  of  his  dis- 
course they  would  find  matter  for  his   condemnation.     It  would 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  7 

require  too  much  space  to  follow  in  detail  the  various  proceedings 
which  they  instituted  against  Wheelwright.  First,  the  great  and 
Greueral  Court,  backed  by  an  advisory  counsel  of  the  clergy,  pro- 
nounced him  guilty  of  "sedition  and  contempt  of  the  civil  author- 
ity." Wheelwright  was  not  daunted  by  this.  The  next  applica- 
tion was  a  synod  of  the  clergy  of  the  colony,  who,  after  a  laborious 
session  of  twenty-four  days,  condemned  no  less  than  eighty-two 
erroneous  opinions,  which  they  alleged  had  been  brought  to  New 
England  and  "  spread  underhand  there."  Wheelwright  attended 
the  meetings  of  the  synod,  and,  of  course,  understood  very  well 
that  its  conclusions  were  in  effect,  if  not  by  name,  a  condemna- 
tion of  his  position  and  course ;  but  he  did  not  swerve  a  hair's 
breadth  for  that.  Then  his  prosecutors  determined  to  oust  him 
b}'  force.  The  General  Court  was  to  be  the  instrument;  and  in 
order  to  make  sure  of  a  majority  of  deputies  who  would  perform 
their  beliests,  the  authorities  resorted  to  the  extraordinary  course 
of  a  special  election.  Before  this  tribunal,  thus  organized  to  con- 
vict, Wheelwright  appeared  and  pleaded  not  guilty.  To  such  a 
trial  there  could  be  but  one  ending.  For  the  offences  of  which  he 
had  previously  been  found  guilty,  "  and  for  now  justifying  himself 
and  his  former  practice,  being  to  the  disturbance  of  the  civil 
peace,"  he  was  by  the  court  disfranchised  and  banished. 

Wheelwright  was  not  the  only  victim.  Mrs.  Hutchinson  also 
was  banished  from  the  colony,  and  several  of  their  adherents  were 
"disarmed" — deprived  of  all  weapons  —  an  ignominious  and 
harsh  punishment  at  that  time  when  the  means  of  protection  and 
defence  were  so  essential.  Thus  one  of  the  earliest  acts  of  those 
who  emigrated  hither  to  obtain  their  religious  freedom,  was  to 
establish  a  religious  despotism.  The  poor  pretence  that  the  act 
was  necessary  for  the  maintenance  of  "the  civil  peace,"  finds  no 
justification  in  any  fact  which  the  most  prejudiced  apologist  has 
been  able  to  urge  in  its  favor. 

The  sentence  against  Wheelwright  was  pronounced  early  in 
November,  1637,  and  he  was  allowed  two  weeks  to  depart  out  of 
the  jurisdiction.  Much  to  the  surprise  of  many,  instead  of  accom- 
panying his  sister-in-law  to  Rhode  Island,  where  he  would  have 
been  welcomed  to  an  asylum  of  religious  freedom,  he  turned  his 
face  towards  the  far  less  inviting  solitude  of  the  falls  of  the 
Squamscot.  It  is  probable  that  he  sailed  from  Boston  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Pascataqua  in  a  coaster  belonging  to  John  Clark, 
afterwards  of  Rhode  Island,  one  of  his  sympathizers  ;  and  then 


8  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

made  his  difficult  way  overland  to  his  destination.  The  succeed- 
ing inclement  season  he  must  have  passed  in  the  rude  cabin  of 
some  neighboring  settler,  perhaps  that  of  Edward  Hilton.  It  was 
a  bitter  winter,  and  the  snow  covered  the  ground  to  the  depth  of 
three  feet,  from  the  fourth  of  November  to  the  fifth  of  the  follow- 
ing March. 

But  no  sooner  were  the  icy  chains  of  winter  loosed,  than  the 
resolute  and  indefatigable  Wheelwright  began  to  bestir  hbnself  in 
making  preparations  for  his  new  settlement. 

THE    DEEDS    FROM    THE    INDIANS. 

The  release  of  the  Indians'  right  to  the  lands  in  and  about  Exe- 
ter was  contained  in  two  deeds  which  are  still  preserved,  and  are 
here  given,  with  the  original  orthography  and  contractions. 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  I  Wehanownowit  Sagamore 
of  piskatoquake  for  good  considerations  me  therevnto  mouing  & 
for  certen  comodys  which  I  have  received  have  graunted  &  sould 
vnto  John  Whelewright  of  piscatoquake,  Samuel  Hutchinson  & 
Augustine  Stor  of  Boston  Edward  Calcord  &  Darby  Field  of  pis- 
catoquake &  John  Compton  of  Roxbury  and  Nicholas  Needome  of 
Mount  Walliston  all  the  right  title  &  interest  in  all  such  lauds, 
woods,  meadows,  riuers,  brookes  springs  as  of  right  belong  vnto 
me  from  Merimack  riuer  to  the  patents  of  piscatoquake  bounded 
w""''  the  South  East  side  of  piscatoquake  patents  &  so  to  goe  into 
the  Country  north  West  thirty  miles  as  far  as  oyster  riuer  to  haue 
&  to  hold  the  same  to  them  &  their  heires  forever,  onely  the  ground 
w'^  is  broken  up  excepted.  &  that  it  shall  be  lawfull  for  the  said 
Sagamore  to  huut  &  fish  &  foul  in  the  said  limits.  In  Witness 
whereof  I  haue  hereunto  set  my  hand  the  3*^  day  of  April  1638. 
Signed  &  possession  giuen.     These  being  present 

James  Wall. 

James,  his  m'ke  Wehanownowit    his  m'ke. 

his  W.  C.  m'ke. 
William  Cole 

his  M  m'ke. 
Lawrence  Cowpland 

Know  all  men  by  these  p''sents  y'  I  Wehanownowitt  Sagamore  of 
Puschataquake  for  a  certajne  some  of  money  to  mee  in  hand  payd 
&  other  m''chandable  comodities  wch  I  haue  reed  as  likewise  for 
other  good  causes  &  considerations  mee  y''  imto  spetially  mouing 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  9 

haue  granted  barganed  alienated  &  sould  vnto  John  Wheelewright 
of  Pischataqua  &  Augustine  Storr  of  Bostone  all  those  Lands 
woods  Medowes  Marshes  rivers  brookes  springs  with  all  the  app""- 
tenances  emoluments  pfitts  comoditys  there  unto  belonging  lying  , 
and  situate  within  three  miles  of  the  Northerne  side  of  y*"  river 
Meremake  extending  thirty  miles  along  by  the  river  from  the  sea 
side  &  from  the  sayd  river  side  to  Pischataqua  Patents  thirty  Miles 
vp  into  the  countrey  North  West  &  soe  from  the  ffalls  of  Pischa- 
taqua to  Oyster  river  thirty  Miles  square  ev'y  way,  to  haue  &  to 
hould  the  same  to  them  &  y''  heyres  for  euer  only  the  ground  wch  is 
broaken  vp  is  excepted  &  it  shall  bee  lawfull  for  y''  sayd  Saga- 
more to  hunt  fish  &  foule  in  the  sayd  lymitts.  In  witnesse  w'of  I 
have  hereunto  sett  my  hand  &  scale  the  third  day  of  Aprill  1G38. 

Signed  sealed  &  deliv'ed  & 
possession  given  in  the  p'sence  of 

James  his  m'ke     Aspamabough 
his  m'ke 

Edward  Calcord  Wehanownowit    his  m'ke. 

Nicholas  Needham  Pummadockyou*     his  m'ke. 

AVilliam  Furbar  the  Sagamore's  son 

It  will  be  observed  that  in  the  description  of  the  premises  re- 
leased, the  main  difference  between  these  two  instruments  was  in 
regard  to  the  southern  boundary  ;  in  the  former  deed  it  was  a  line 
three  miles  north  of  the  Merrimac  river ;  in  the  latter  it  was  the 
river  itself.  The  occasion  of  this  duplication  of  the  title-deeds 
was,  in  all  likelihood,  the  want  of  knowledge  of  the  exact  location 
of  the  northern  limit  of  Massachusetts  ;  and  the  intention  was  to 
claim  to  that  limit,  and  to  rely  on  whichever  of  the  deeds  the 
better  sustained  that  claim. 

The  change  of  grantees  named  in  the  deeds  indicates  that  there 
could  have  been  no  intention  of  vesting  the  title  in  them  person- 
ally ;  and,  accordingly,  it  will  be  found  that  they  never  assumed 
the  ownership  in  themselves,  but  allowed  the  conveyances  to  enure 
to  the  benefit  of  the  great  body  of  the  settlers,  and  the  lauds  to  be 
at  their  disposal  and  control.  This  fact,  taken  in  connection  with 
the  prompt  appearance  upon  the  ground  of  no  less  than  nine  of 
Wheelwright's  friends  and  supporters,  in  the  character  of  grantees 


*The  original  deeds  bear  the  totems  or  distinctive  marks  of  Ibe  Indians,  being  rude 
sketches,  as  follows:  those  of  James  and  of  Wehanownowit  a  man  holding  a  toma- 
hawk; that  of  Pummadockyon  a  man  holding  a  bow  and  arrow;  and  that  of  Aspam- 
abough a  bow  and  arrow. 


10  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

and  witnesses,  and  the  speedy  arrival  of  numerous  others,  leaves 
little  question  that  the  project  of  the  Exeter  settlement  had  been 
fully  organized  and  understood  beforehand. 

THE    DISPUTED    INDIAN   DEED    OF    1629. 

In  the  trial  of  the  action  at  law  of  Allen  against  Waldron  in 
1707,  which  involved  ihe  title  to  substantially  all  the  lands  in  New 
Hampshire,  the  defendant  introduced  in  evidence  a  deed  purport- 
ing to  have  been  executed  by  Passacouawa}^,  sagamore  of  Pena- 
cook,  Runawit  of  Pentucket,  Wahanownawit  of  Squamscot  and 
Howls  of  Newichwannock,  to  the  Rev.  John  Wheelwright  and 
others,  on  the  seventeenth  day  of  May,  1629,  nearly  nine  years 
prior  to  the  date  of  the  deeds  already  mentioned.  It  assumed  to 
convey  the  rights  of  the  grantors'  tribesmen  to  the  same  territory 
described  in  those  deeds,  and  even  more.  The  instrument  under- 
went the  ordeal  of  the  courts  unscathed,  and  passed  into  the  his- 
tory of  the  time  as  a  genuine  document,  and  was  universally  so 
regarded  for  a  hundred  years.  In  1820  Mr.  James  Savage,  while 
editing  an  edition  of  Winthrop's  Journal,  was  led,  by  a  compari- 
son of  dates,  to  inquire  into  the  authenticity  of  the  deed,  and  with 
characteristic  positiveness,  to  pronounce  it  spurious.  His  view 
was  adopted  by  several  of  the  historians  of  New  Hampshire,  in- 
cluding Mr.  John  Farmer  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Nathaniel  Bouton. 
It  has,  however,  been  queried  by  some  others  whether  the  reasons 
given  for  discrediting  the  instrument  are  conclusive. 

But  it  seems  quite  unnecessary  to  go,  in  this  work,  into  any  in- 
quiry on  the  subject.  Whether  the  deed  of  1629  was  true  or  false, 
it  is  certain  tliat  Wheelwright  in  making  his  settlement  did  not 
rely  upon  it,  but  upon  the  conveyances  of  the  later  date.  The 
question  respecting  the  authenticity  of  the  earlier  deed,  therefore, 
however  interesting  it  may  be  to  antiquaries,  can  affect  no  one's 
title  or  claim,  and  is  of  no  practical  importance. 

The  instrument,  however,  as  a  historical  curiosity,  is  worthy  of 
preservation.  Being  of  considerable  length  it  will  be  placed  in  the 
appendix  (I). 

TRIALS    OF   THE    OPENING   YEAR. 

The  opening  year  of  Exeter's  settlement  must  have  tested  to  the 
utmost  the  courage  and  endurance  of  the  colonists.  Everything 
needed  to  render  the  place  habitable  had  to  be  created ;  for  the 


HISTORY  OF  EXETEll.  11 

lack  of  means  of  transport  in  the  wilderness  preclnded  the  convej'- 
ance  thither  of  anything  beyond  the  absolute  essentials  of  exist- 
ence. The  trees  of  the  primeval  forest  had  to  be  felled,  and  from 
their  trunks  rude  dwellings  constructed,  to  shelter  the  tender  ones. 
The  absence  of  household  furniture  compelled  the  fashioning  of 
substitutes  from  wood  or  bark.  Planting-land  must  be  cleared, 
and  seed  sown,  to  provide  against  the  danger  of  starvation.  Nu- 
merous other  wants,  the  products  of  civilization,  clamored  also  to 
be  at  once  supplied  ;  so  that  every  hour  of  the  first  season  must 
have  been  devoted  to  providing  the  means  for  rendering  life 
secure  and  tolerable.  Nothing  short  of  extraordinary  firmness  of 
character,  the  consciousness  of  right  in  their  religious  trials,  and 
their  confidence  in  their  leader  and  pastor,  would  have  enabled  the 
early  settlers  of  the  town  to  bear  up  under  the  difficulties  and 
hardships  of  their  position. 

From  the  best  information  that  can  now  be  obtained,  the  popu- 
lation of  P^xeter  did  not  advance  during  the  first  year  much,  if  at 
all,  beyond  a  score  of  families.  These  consisted  in  about  equal 
proportions  of  Wheelwright's  parishioners  and  adherents  from 
Mount  Wollaston  and  its  vicinity  in  Massachusetts,  and  of  his  con- 
nections and  friends  lately  arrived  from  Lincolnshire  in  England. 
In  July,  1637,  in  the  midst  of  the  Antinomian  excitement,  a  ship 
had  reached  Boston,  from  England,  bringing  as  passengers  a 
brother  of  Mrs.  Anne  Hutchinson,  and  a  number  of  other  transat- 
lantic friends  of  Wheelwright.  The  General  Court  of  Massachu- 
setts had  recently  enacted  a  law  forbidding  new  comers  to  tarry 
in  the  colony  for  a  longer  time  than  three  weeks,  without  the 
written  permission  of  a  member  of  the  council  or  of  two  other 
magistrates.  That  friends  of  Wheelwright  should  be  suffered  to 
make  their  permanent  homes  in  Massachusetts  was  out  of  the  ques- 
tion. Governor  Winthrop  gave  them  leave  to  remain  for  four 
months,  but  no  longer.  In  November,  1637,  therefore,  they  had 
to  seek  an  abiding  place  elsewhere.  They,  doubtless,  chose  to  go 
where  Wheelwright  went,  and  found  winter  quarters  somewhere  on 
the  Pascataqua  ;  and  in  the  following  spring  sat  down  with  him  at 
Exeter.  Of  these  we  can  reckon  about  ten  heads  of  families,  and 
of  those  who  came  from  the  neighborhood  of  Boston,  about  the 
same  number. 

The  wives  and  little  ones  did  not  stay  long  behind.  Wheel- 
wright's family  left  Massachusetts  in  March,  1638,  to  follow  him 
to  Exeter  by  water.     The  difficulties  of  travelling  thither  l)y  land 


12  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

were  too  great  for  women  and  children,  even  at  the  most  favorable 
season.  But  it  was  quite  practicable  to  navigate  a  vessel  of  fair 
size  along  the  coast  and  up  the  river  to  the  very  foot  of  the  falls  of 
the  Squamscot ;  and  it  is  altogether  likely  that  most  of  the  fami- 
lies adopted  that  mode  of  conveyance  for  themselves  and  their 
more  portable  household  effects. 

THE    FIRST    CHURCH. 

This  was  essentially  a  religious  colonization,  and  there  can  be 
no  doubt  that  at  an  early  stage,  a  church  was  gathered,  though  its 
records  have  long  since  disappeared.  We  assume  that  this  was 
done  before  December  13,  1638,  because  the  fact  is  recorded  in 
the  past  tense  in  Winthrop's  contemporaneous  History  of  New 
England,  under  that  date.  The  time  of  the  formation  of  the 
church  is  not  there  given,  but  the  facts  recited  would  imply  that 
it  must  have  been  in  existence  for  some  weeks,  if  not  months 
before  that  date.  It  probably  included  in  its  membership  all,  or 
nearly  all,  the  adult  persons  in  the  settlement.  The  members  of 
the  newly  gathered  church  wrote  to  the  church  in  Boston,  no  doubt, 
in  the  autumn  of  1638,  asking  for  the  dismission  of  Wheelwright 
therefrom,  in  order  that  he  might  be  their  minister  ;  but  as  Wheel- 
wright himself,  for  obvious  reasons,  did  not  join  in  the  petition, 
the  elders  of  the  Boston  church  declined  to  lay  the  i)roposal  before 
the  members.  Upon  this  being  made  known  to  Wheelwright  he 
sent  his  own  request  to  the  same  effect,  which  reached  the  elders 
early  in  December  ;  and  thereupon  on  the  sixth  of  the  following 
January  the  Boston  church  dismissed  Wheelwright,  Richard  Mor- 
ris, Hichard  Bulgar,  Philemon  Pormort,  Isaac  Gross,  Christopher 
Marshall,  George  Bates,  Thomas  Wardell  and  William  Wardell 
"  unto  the  church  of  Christ  at  the  falls  of  the  Pascataqua,  if  they 
be  rightly  gathered  and  ordered."  And  two  months  afterwards, 
on  March  3,  1639,  they  dismissed  to  the  same  church,  also, 
Susanna  Hutchinson,  widow,  Mary,  the  wife  of  Wheelwright, 
Leonora,  the  wife  of  Kichard  Morris,  Henry  Elkins  and  his  wife, 
this  time  without  conditions,  being  apparently  satisfied  that  the 
church  of  Exeter  tt-as  "rightly  gathered  and  ordered." 

It  was  a  circumstance  none  too  creditable  to  the  temper  of  the 
authorities  of  Massachusetts,  that  after  they  had  relieved  them- 
selves from  all,  even  imaginary  danger  from  their  heterodox 
brethren  by  banishing  them  from  their  territory,  they  must  needs 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  13 

grudge  them  a  friendly  reception  among  their  new  neighbors.  In 
September,  1638,  tlae  General  Court  of  that  colony  directed  the 
governor  to  write  to  the  Rev.  George  Burdett  at  Dover,  Thomas 
AViggin  at  Squamscot,  and  others,  of  the  vicinity,  reproaching 
them  for  having  aided  Wheelwright  in  founding  the  plantation  at 
Exeter.  This  gratuitous  act  of  unfriendliness  must  naturally  have 
reached  the  ears  of  the  parties  at  whom  it  was  aimed,  and  could 
not  fail  to  embitter  them  still  more  against  their  persistent  perse- 
cutors. 

Shortly  afterwards  the  settlement  of  Winicowet,  now  Hampton, 
was  begun  under  the  authority  of  Massachusetts.  Prior  to  this 
time  that  colony  had  made  no  claim  nor  attempt  to  exercise  juris- 
diction over  any  territory  lying  more  than  three  miles  north  of  the 
Merrimac  river — the  line  to  which  the  obvious  construction  of  her 
charter  would  appear  to  restrict  her.  But  Winicowet  was  above 
that  distance  north  of  the  Merrimac,  and,  moreover,  was  embraced 
in  Wheelwright's  purchase  from  the  Indians.  He,  therefore,  gave 
notice  to  the  settlers  of  Hampton  and  to  the  General  Court  of 
Massachusetts  that  the  lands  of  Hampton  had  been  bought  by 
Exeter  from  the  Indian  sagamores,  and  would  be  lotted  out  in 
farms,  unless  Massachusetts  could  show  a  better  title.  The  Gen- 
eral Court  replied  that  they  looked  upon  this  as  against  good 
neighborhood,  religion  and  common  honesty,  as  Exeter  knew  that 
Massachusetts  claimed  Hampton  as  within  her  patent,  or  as  vacant 
land,  and  had  taken  possession  thereof  by  building  a  house  there 
above  two  years  before.  The  Exeter  proprietors  made  reply,  that 
they  claimed  nothing  which  was  within  the  patent  of  Massachu- 
setts. But,  before  that,  the  authorities  of  Massachusetts  had  sent 
men  to  explore  the  course  of  the  Merrimac,  and  had  discovered 
that  its  source  was  far  to  the  northward  of  the  Pascataqua  planta- 
tions, and  thereupon  resolved  upon  that  construction  of  their 
charter  which  they  promulgated  by  a  solemn  order  in  1652,  claim- 
ing that  the  northern  bound  of  their  patent  was  an  east  and  west 
line  drawn  through  a  point  three  miles  northerly  of  the  northern- 
most extremity  of  the  Merrimac.  This  new  interpretation  must  be 
admitted  to  be  highly  artificial ;  but  Massachusetts  had  a  strong 
government,  while  the  New  Hampshire  settlements  were  feeble, 
and  England  was  hopelessly  far  away.  Massachusetts  was  thus 
in  a  condition  to  enforce  her  claims,  and  they  were  submitted  to 
for  the  time.  But  when  they  were  subsequently  brought  before 
the  English  tribunals  they  were  unhesitatingly  rejected. 


14  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Thus  passed  the  first  year  of  the  life  of  the  new  town,  if  town 
it  can  be  called  which  was  without  municipal  regulations  or  any 
kind  of  civil  government.  Thus  far  the  inhabitants  had  been  so 
fully  engrossed  in  providing  for  their  prime  necessities,  their  inter- 
ests were  so  little  conflicting,  and  the  influence  of  their  leader  was 
so  complete,  that  no  disorder  or  serious  differences  had  occurred. 
But  the  second  year  was  to  bring  accessions  to  their  numbers,  of 
those  who  could  not  be  expected  to  jdeld  equal  obedience  to 
Wheelwright's  wishes.  The  existence  of  the  new  plantation  had 
been  bruited  about,  and  another  set  of  inhabitants,  of  different 
antecedents  and  purposes,  began  to  come  in.  And  before  the  end 
of  the  second  year  the  population  had  at  least  doubled. 

ANOTHER   INDIAN    DEED. 

On  the  tenth  of  April,  1639,  ^Mieelwright  succeeded  in  strength- 
ening the  town's  title  to  the  territory  purchased  from  Wehanowna- 
wit  and  Pummadockyon  the  year  before,  by  the  confirmatory  grant 
of  another  Indian  of  authority,  indorsed  upon  their  deed,  in  the 
following  terms  : 

Know  all  men  by  these  p^'sents  that  I  Watohantowet  doe  fully 
consent  to  the  grant  within  written,  &  do  yeild  up  all  my  right  in 
the  said  purchased  lands  to  the  ptys  w"'  in  written.  In  witnesse 
whereof  I  haue  herevnto  set  my  hand  the  tenth  day  of  April  1639. 

I  doe  likewise  grant  vnto  them  for  goode  consideration  all  the 
meadows  &  gi'ounds  extending  for  the  space  of  one  english  mile 
on  the  East  side  of  Oyster  river.     April  10.  1639. 

These  being  p'sent 

Watohantowet  *  his  m'ke. 
his  a  m'ke 

Darby  Field 

From  the  last  clause  in  the  foregoing  grant  it  appears  that 
Watahantowet  claimed  the  proprietorship  of  lands  beyond  Oyster 
river,  afterwards  appropriated  by  Dover,  and  now  included  in  Dur- 
ham. So  far  as  those  lands  were  concerned,  Exeter  benefited 
little  by  the  conveyance. 


*  The  totem  of  Wataliantowet  delineated  upon  the  deed  was  an  armless  man. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  15 

THE    COMBINATION. 

As  the  second  season  aclvfinced  the  need  of  some  form  of  civil 
government  became  apparent.  There  were  no  constituted  authori- 
ties over  the  patent  of  New  Hampshire,  and  the  Exeter  settlers 
were  driven  to  the  expedient  adopted  nineteen  years  before  by  the 
Pilgrim  Fathers,  and  perhaps  employed  by  one  at  least  of  the 
other  plantations  upon  the  Pascataqna.  They  agreed  upon  a  vol- 
untary association  for  governmental  purposes,  which  was  drawn  up 
by  their  pastor  and  subscribed  by  him  and  probably  by  the  greater 
number  of  the  adult  males  of  the  settlement.  It  bore  date  the 
fourth  day  of  July,  1639  ;  just  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  years 
before  the  adoption  of  the  memorable  declaration  of  American 
Independence. 

The  following  is  the  language  of  this  compact : 

Whereas  it  has  pleased  the  lord  to  moue  the  heart  of  our  Dread 
Soveraigne  Charles,  by  the  grace  of  god  King  of  England,  Scot- 
land France  &  Ireland,  to  grant  licence  &  liberty  to  sundry  of  his 
subjects  to  plant  them  selves  in  the  AYesterne  partes  of  America  ; 
Wee  his  loyall  subjects,  brethren  of  the  church  of  Exceter,  situate 
&  lying  upon  the  river  of  Piscataquacke  w""  other  inhabitants  there 
considering  w"^  our  selves  the  holy  will  of  god  and  oiir  owne  neces- 
sity that  we  should  not  live  w*out  wholsome  lawes  &  ci\'il  govern- 
ment amongst  us,  of  w""  we  are  altogether  destitute,  doe  in  the 
name  of  Christ  &  in  the  sight  of  god  combine  our  selves  together, 
to  erect  &  set  up  amongst  us  such  government  as  shall  be  to  our 
best  discerning,  agreeable  to  the  will  of  god,  professing  our  selves 
subjects  to  our  Soveraigne  Lord  King  Charles  according  to  the  lib- 
ertys  of  om*  English  Colony  of  the  Massachusets  &  binding  our 
selves  solemnely  by  the  grace  &  helpe  of  Christ  &  in  his  name  & 
f  eare  to  submit  our  selves  to  such  godly  &  christian  laws  as  are 
established  in  the  Realme  of  England  to  our  best  knowledge,  &  to 
all  other  such  lawes  w''  shall  upon  good  grounds  be  made  &  inacted 
amongst  us  according  to  god  y'  we  may  live  quietly  &  peaceablely 
together  in  all  godlyness  and  honesty. 

Mon.  5*,  d.  4"^  1639. 

This  instrimient  was  soon  found  to  be  unsatisfactory  to  some  of 
the  brethren,  because  of  its  too  lavish  expressions  of  loyalty  to  the 
king,  who  was  of  course  in  their  minds  identified  with  prelacy. 
Like   their   neighbors    of    Massachusetts    they   were   willing    to 


16  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

acknowledge,  in  a  general  way,  that  he  was  their  lawful  sovereign, 
and  that  they  were  his  subjects,  but  they  had  no  disposition  to 
make  any  unnecessary  or  exuberant  professions  of  allegiance.  It 
might  have  been  at  this  time  and  on  this  account  that  some  of  the 
inhabitants  made  overtures  to  the  Massachusetts  authorities  to  be 
received  under  their  government,  as  the  people  of  Dover  had  just 
done.  The  Exeter  people,  however,  soon  "repented  themselves" 
and  withdrew  the  proposal.  The  objectionable  feature  of  the 
Combination  had  been  cancelled,  and  a  new  compact  drawn,  of  the 
same  purport,  except  that  it  simply  acknowledged  the  king  to  be 
their  sovereign,  and  themselves  to  be  his  subjects.  This  second 
compact  was  executed  in  due  form,  was  apparently  satisfactory  to 
the  former  dissentients,  and  went  into  effect,  as  the  basis  of  gov- 
ernment. But,  quite  curiously,  it  seems  to  have  led  to  trouble  in 
the  opposite  direction  —  because  it  did  not  contain  loyalty  enough. 


THE    FIRST    CRIMINAL    TROCEEDING. 

One  Gabriel  Fish,  a  member  of  the  Exeter  church,  who  perhaps 
understood  by  the  change  in  the  compact  for  government,  that  roy- 
alty was  at  a  discount,  was  guilty  of  "speaking  against"  his  maj- 
esty ;  possibly  of  uttering  speeches  which  might  be  construed  as 
treasonable.  This  by  no  means  suited  the  views  of  the  leading 
men  of  Exeter.  They  at  once  caused  Fish  to  be  arrested,  and 
some  of  them  proceeded  to  Massachusetts  to  take  advice  what  to 
do  with  him. 

This  occuiTence  brought  a  new  and  singular  figure  into  the  his- 
tory of  the  town.  Captain  John  Underhill  was  a  military  adven- 
turer who  after  having  lived  for  seven  years  in  Massachusetts  and 
distinguished  himself  in  the  Pequot  war,  and  otherwise,  was  dis- 
armed for  his  adherence  to  the  opinions  of  Wheelwright  and  Mrs. 
Hutchinson,  and  came  to  Dover,  where  he  was  chosen  chief  magis- 
trate, under  the  style  of  governor.  He  was  fond  of  brave  apparel, 
addicted  to  the  use  of  "  the  good  creature  tobacco,"  and  possibly 
not  averse  to  a  stoup  of  strong  waters,  a  little  too  partial  to  the 
other  sex,  and  wore  his  political  and  religious  principles  rather 
loosely ;  in  short,  he  showed  a  singularly  incongruous  outline 
against  the  prim  background  of  New  England  Puritanism.  He, 
hearing  of  the  detention  of  Fish,  and  perhaps  to  ingratiate  himself 
with  the  prelatical  party  who  were  strong  at  the  mouth  of  the  Pas- 
cataqua,  and  would  be  glad  to  see  a  maliguer  of  the  king  soundly 


HISTORY  OF  EXETEK.  17 

punished,  sent  thirteen  armed  men  from  Dover  to  Exeter,  who 
took  Fish  from  custody  there,  and  conveyed  him  to  Dover.  This 
and  otlier  instances  of  misconduct  occasioned  a  change  of  opinion 
in  Dover  respecting  Uuderhill,  wliicli  resulted  in  deposing  him 
and  electing  Thomas  Roberts  in  his  place,  who  at  once  restored 
Fish  to  the  authorities  of  Exeter.  It  is  not  improbable  that  his 
return  was  a  source  of  embarrassment.  The  change  in  the  Exeter 
Combination  would  hardly  justify  his  punishment  for  speaking 
against  the  king,  and  the  authorities  of  IMassachusetts  were  by  no 
means  anxious  to  claim  jurisdiction  of  the  case  ;  so  we  may  imag- 
ine that  the  charge  against  Fish  was  not  pressed. 

But  tlie  result  of  this  liasco  appears  to  have  been  to  make  j'^et 
another  change  in  the  P^xeter  compact  for  government.  On  the 
second  of  April,  1G40,  the  original  Combination,  as  alread}'  given 
in  these  pages,  was  re-executed,  with  the  following  explanatory 
preamble  : 

Whereas  a  certen  combination  was  made  by  us  the  brethren  of 
the  chur^'li  of  P^xeter  w"'  the  rest  of  the  Inhabitants  bearing  date 
Mon.  o"^,  d.  4,  1639  w''  afterwards  upon  the  instant  request  of 
some  of  the  brethren,  was  altered  &  put  into  such  a  form  of  wordes, 
wherein  howsoever  we  doe  acknowledge  the  King's  Majesty  our 
dread  Soveraigne  &  our  selves  his  subjects,  yet  some  expressions 
are  contained  therein  w''  may  seeme  to  admit  of  such  a  sence  as 
somewhat  derogates  from  that  due  Allegiance  w^  we  owe  iito  his 
Highuesse  quite  contrary  to  our  true  intents  and  meanings  :  Wee 
therefore  doe  revoke,  disanull  make  voyd  and  frustrate  the  said 
latter  combination,  as  if  it  never  had  been  done  &  doe  ratify,  con- 
firme  &  establish  the  former,  w*"  wee  only  stand  unto,  as  being  in 
force  &  vertue,  the  w''  for  substance  is  here  set  down  in  manner 
and  form  following. 

Mon.  2\  d.  -2,  1640. 


Here  follows  the   combination  substantially  as  it  was  originally 
drawn,  and  appended  to  it  are  the  following  signatures  : 

John  "Whelewright  Richard  BuUgar 

Augustine  Storre  Christopher  Lawson 

Thomas  Wight  George  Barlow  * 

William  Wantworth  Richard  Moris 

Henry  Elkins  Nicholas  Needham 

George  Walton  *  Thomas  Willson  * 

Samuell  Walker  George  Ruobone  * 


18  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Thomas  Pettit  William  Coole  * 

Henry  Roby  James  Walles  * 

Willia  Weiibourne  Thomas  Levitt  * 

Thomas  Crawley  *  Edmond  Littlefield 

Chr:  Helme  John  Crame  * 

Darby  Field  *  Godfrye  Deareborne  * 

Robert  Read  *  Philemon  Pormort 

Edward  Rishworth  Thomas  Wardell 

Francis  Mathews  *  Willia  Wardell  * 

Ralph  Hall  Robert  Smith  * 
Robert  Soward* 

We  have  advanced  a  little  beyond  the  chronological  order  of 
our  narrative,  for  the  purpose  of  giving  a  continuous  history  of 
the  formation  and  changes  of  the  Combination.  We  will  now 
return  to  the  original  date  of  it,  July  4,  1(339. 

At  the  same  time  when  that  Combination  was  formed,  a  regular 
scheme  of  government  was  apparently  established.  The  executive 
aiid  judicial  functions  were  vested  in  a  board  of  three  magistrates, 
or  elders,  of  whom  the  chief  was  styled  Ruler.  They  were  chosen 
by  the  whole  body  of  the  freemen,  who  wei'e  the  electors  and  legis- 
lators, their  enactments,  however,  requiring  the  approval  of  the 
Ruler.  An  inhabitant  had  to  be  admitted  a  freeman,  before  he 
could  enjoy  the  privileges  of  an  elector ;  and  there  is  one  instance 
of  a  freeman  being  deprived  of  his  privileges  as  such,  by  reason 
of  misconduct. 

Both  the  Elders  and  the  People  were  required  to  take  certain 
prescribed  oaths,  which  are  here  given. 

THE    ELDERS    OATH,    Y*^    4th    DAY,    5x11    M°.    1639. 

You  shall  sweare  by  the  great  and  dreadfull  name  of  the  high 
God  maker  &  Gov''  of  heaven  and  earth,  and  by  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  y®  Prince  of  the  Kings  and  Rulers  of  the  earth  that  in  his 
name  and  f  eare  you  will  Rule  and  Governe  this  his  people  according 
to  the  righteous  will  of  God's  Ministeringe  Justice  and  Judgm' 
upon  the  workers  of  iniquity  and  Ministering  due  incurridgm'  and 
Countinance  to  well  doers  —  protecting  of  people  so  farre  as  in 
you  by  the  helpe  of  [God]  lyeth,  from  forren  Annoyance  and  in- 
ward disturbance  that  they  may  live  a  quiett  and  peacable  life  in 
all  godlyness  and  honesty.  Soe  God  bee  helpful  and  gratious  to 
you  and  yo"  in  Christ  Jesus. 


*These  made  their  marks;  although  at  least  one  of  them  James  Wall  (here  written 
Walles)  was  capable  of  writing  a  neat  signature. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  19 


THE    OATH    OF   THE    PEOPLE. 


Wee  doe  here  sweare  by  the  Great  and  dreadfull  name  of  ye 
high  God,  maker  &  Gouern"'  of  Heaven  &  earth  and  by  the  Lord 
Jesus  X'  y*^  King  &  Savio''  of  his  people  that  in  his  name  &  fear  we 
will  submitt  o""  selves  to  be  ruld  &  gouerued  by,  according  to  y* 
will  &  word  of  God  and  such  holsome  Laws  &  ordinances  as  shall 
be  derived  theire  from  by  o'  honr'^  Rulers  and  y"  Lawfull  assistance 
with  the  consent  of  y*^  people  and  y'  wee  will  be  ready  to  assist 
them  by  the  helpe  of  God  in  the  administracon  of  Justice  and 
p^'servacou  of  peace  with  o''  bodys  and  goods  and  best  endeauo" 
according  to  God,  so  God  protect  &  saue  us  and  o"  in  Christ  Jesus. 

Isaac  Gross  was  chosen  the  first  Ruler,  and  undoubtedly  quali- 
fied himself  by  taking  the  Elder's  oath.  It  is  not  unlikely  that  he 
was  also  a  ruling  elder  in  the  church.  On  the  eighteenth  of  January, 
1640,  Augustine  Storre  and  Anthony  Stanyan  were  joined  with 
him,  and  the  three  were  to  have  "  the  ordering  of  all  town  affairs 
according  to  God."  These  officers  corresponded  closely  to  our 
modern  selectmen,  in  respect  to  their  duties,  and  under  their 
administration  the  affairs  of  the  little  town  went  on  satisfactorily. 

A  glimpse  of  the  customs  of  the  time  is  afforded  us  by  a  trans- 
action recorded  in  the  Note  Book  of  Thomas  Lechford,  Esq.,  an 
English  lawyer,  who  practised  his  profession  in  Boston  in  Massa- 
chusetts from  1638  to  1611.  Under  date  of  July  5,  1639,  he 
records  the  drawing  of  a  covenant  between  Elizabeth  Evans  of 
Bridgend  in  the  county  of  Glamorgan  in  Wales  and  John  Wheel- 
wright, minister,  by  which  she  engaged  to  become  his  servant  for 
three  years  from  June  25  then  last  past,  for  three  pounds  per 
annum  as  wages,  and  in  consideration  that  her  passage  to  this 
country  was  paid  by  Wheelwright.  The  instrument  appears  not 
to  have  been  executed  in  Boston,  and  we  know  that  Wheelwright's 
sentence  of  banishment  was  still  in  force.  No  doubt  it  was  com- 
pleted in  Exeter,  having  been  brought  thither  by  Richard  Bulgar 
or  Richard  Morris,  both  of  whom  had  business  with  the  lawyer 
about  that  time. 

FIRST    ALLOTMENT  OF    LANDS. 

It  was  near  the  close  of  the  second  season  before  any  general 
distribution  of  land  appears  to  have  been  made,  from  the  ample 
domain  at  the  disposal  of  the  town.  On  Wednesday  of  the  first 
week   in  December,  1639,  the  town  made  a  beginning,  by  first 


20  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

defining  the  extensive  uplands  and  meadows  which  belonged  to 
Edward  Hilton,  whose  claim  was  treated  as  antedating  that  of  the 
Exeter  proprietors. 

They  then  provided  that  all  the  meadows  belonging  to  the  town 
between  the  village  and  Mr.  Hilton's  house,  and  from  Lamprey 
river  to  the  head  of  the  Little  Bay  should  be  equally  apportioned 
into  four  parts  ;  of  which  one  part  should  be  divided  liy  lot  among 
those  inhabitants  who  had  no  cattle,  or  a  less  number  of  goats  than 
four ;  the  hay  growing  thereon,  however,  to  be  distributed  among 
the  others,  until  such  time  as  they  should  have  cattle  of  their  own, 
or  sell  the  meadows  to  those  having  cattle.  The  other  three  parts 
of  the  meadows  were  to  be  divided  by  lot  among  the  inhabitants 
having  cattle,  according  to  the  number  thereof ;  and  the  division 
was  to  be  made  before  the  next  court  or  town  meetinir. 

The  town  also  provided  that  upland  lots  for  planting  should  be 
laid  out  by  lot  to  all  the  inhabitants,  by  the  river  between  Stony 
creek  and  the  creek  on  this  (the  south)  side  of  Mr.  Hilton's, 
according  to  the  number  of  persons  and  cattle  belonging  to  each, 
except  such  persons  as  lived  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  river,  and 
"William  Hilton  and  John  Smart,  who  were  to  have  lots  on  that 
side  of  the  river,  where  the  town  should  think  most  convenient, 
[acting]  by  Ruler  Needham  and  Augustine  Storre. 

The  division  of  lands  thus  ordered  was  duly  made,  doubtless  in 
the  course  of  the  same  month.* 

The  marshes  and  meadows,  bearing  spontaneously  a  species  of 
grass  on  which  when  dried  the  cattle  could  well  subsist,  were  at 
this  eai'ly  period,  when  no  considerable  clearing  away  of  the  forest 
had  been  effected,  of  great  value  to  the  settlers.  The  whole  extent 
of  them  was  but  one  hundred  and  ten  acres,  but  they  were  appor- 
tioned with  particularity  among  the  thirty-seven  heads  of  families 
then  belonging  to  Exeter,  excluding  Edward  Hiltou,  whose  lauds 
had  already  been  secured  to  him.  These  marshes  were  situated 
partly  in  the  vicinity  of  Lamprey  river,  and  partly  between  the 
Hilton  place  in  what  is  now  South  Newmarket,  and  the  present 
village  of  Exeter. 

The  uplands  for  planting-lots,  which  were  also  divided,  amounted 
to  about  four  hundred  and  thirty- three  acres,  and  were  allotted  to 
thirty-two  inhabitants,  not  including  Edward  Hilton,  nor  those 
who  lived  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  river.     The  shares  varied  from 


*  A  complete  record  of  the  allotments  may  be  found  in  the  appendix  (11). 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  21 

four  acres  and  twenty  rods,  per  man,  to  eighty  acres.  Ten  of  the 
inhabitants  received  each  no  more  than  the  smaller  amount ;  and 
only  Wheelwright  received  the  larger.  The  uplands  here  dis- 
tributed lay  on  the  western  bank  of  the  salt  river,  beginning  at  the 
brook  on  the  southerly  side  of  the  Hilton  place  in  South  Newmarket 
and  extending  towards  Exeter  village  about  one  mile  and  thi-ee- 
quarters,  if  the  measurements  are  correct. 

The  inhabitants  began  early  to  exercise  their  new  privileges  as 
legislators,  and  before  the  second  year  of  the  settlement  had  passed 
by,  had  enacted  a  small  body  of  orders,  made  necessary  by  the 
circumstances  of  a  frontier  life.  Setting  fire  to  the  woods  and 
thus  destroying  the  feed  of  the  cattle  was  forbidden.  So  was 
digging  a  saw-pit  and  leaving  it  open,  and  the  offender  was  made 
liable  to  pay  the  damage  caused  thereby  to  man  or  beast.  Every 
man  was  required  to  cut  down  such  trees  07i  his  own  lot,  as  were 
offensive  to  any  other,  under  the  penalty  of  half  a  crown  for  each 
refusal.  This  last  requirement  is  a  refinement  of  legislation,  the 
like  of  which  is  probably  not  to  be  found  in  any  other  code  in 
Christendom. 


NOTICES    OF    EARLY    SETTLERS. 

The  close  of  the  second  year  of  the  new  settlement  found  the 
inhabitants  increased  in  numbers,  with  an  organized  government 
founded  on  a  voluntary  association,  and  constituting  a  complete 
autonomy ;  with  rights  of  property  secured,  and  apparently  noth- 
ing wanting  but  greater  population  and  strength  to  insure  their 
perpetuity. 

This  seems  a  convenient  time  to  take  an  inventory  of  the  mate- 
rial of  which  the  original  settlement  of  Exeter  was  composed.  The 
following  is  a  list  of  the  adult  males,  almost  without  exception  of 
English  birth,  and  mostly  heads  of  families,  who  are  known  to 
have  been  inhabitants  of  the  place  within  the  first  two  years  after 
its  foundation  in  the  spring  of  1638. 

1.  George  Barlow,  of  whom,  prior  to  his  appearance  in  Exeter, 
nothing  has  been  learned.  He  had  no  assignment  in  the  uplands 
or  marshes  in  1639,  but  was  a  subscriber  of  the  restored  Combina- 
tion, A\n-il  2,  1640  ;  so  it  seems  probable  that  he  came  in  the  early 
spring  of  that  year.  In  1641  he  received  from  the  town  a  grant 
of  forty  acres  of  upland,  and  in  1650  four  acres  more.  In 
1649-50  leave  was  given  him  and  others  to  set  up  a  saw-mill  at 


22  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

the  falls  on  Lamprey  river  a  "  a  little  above  the  wigwams."  He  is 
said  to  have  been  a  preacher  while  in  Exeter,  and  he  certainly  was 
so  in  Saco  in  1652  ;  but  his  style  was  so  little  relished  by  the 
powers  of  Massachusetts  that  in  1653  they  forbade  him  to  preach 
or  prophesy  under  a  penalty  of  ten  pounds  for  each  offence.  About 
1660  he  removed  to  Plymouth  and  there  essayed  to  be  a  lawyer. 
He  is  referred  to  in  Bishop's  Neio  England  Judged  for  his  severity 
against  the  Quakers. 

2.  George  Bates,  a  thatcher,  was  an  inhabitant  of  Boston  as 
early  as  December,  1635,  and,  two  years  later,  received  a  grant  of 
fifteen  acres  of  land  there.  He  had  been  admitted  to  the  Boston 
church  in  January,  1636,  but  having  taken  his  departure  to  Exeter 
he  was  on  the  sixth  of  January,  1639,  in  company  with  several 
others,  dismissed  to  the  church  newly  gathered  in  that  place.  His 
stay  in  Exeter,  however,  proved  brief,  and  he  was  received  back 
again  into  the  Boston  church  May  31,  1640.  From  his  associa- 
tions he  was  probably  a  sympathizer  with  Wheelwright,  but  though 
his  handicraft  must  naturally  have  been  in  request  in  a  new  place, 
it  is  very  likely  that  the  hardships  and  privations  of  a  frontier  life 
were  too  much  for  his  strength  or  his  resolution,  and  he  aban- 
doned it. 

3.  Jeremiah  Blackwell  came  to  this  country  in  the  ship  True- 
love  in  1635,  being  then  eighteen  years  old.  Where  he  passed 
the  succeeding  three  or  four  years  is  not  ascertained.  At  the  end 
of  that  time  he  appeared  in  Exeter.  In  the  division  of  the  up- 
lands in  1639  he  received  four  acres  and  twenty  poles,  being,  no 
doubt,  the  share  of  a  single  or  childless  man.  After  that  his  name 
is  not  mentioned.    It  is  clear  that  he  made  no  long  stay  in  Exeter. 

4.  Richard  Bulgar,  born  in  1608,  probably  came  over  in  the 
fleet  with  Winthrop,  and  in  1637  had  an  allotment  of  twenty  acres 
of  land  in  Boston.  He  was  admitted  to  the  church  there  in  1634, 
and  had  a  child  baptized  the  same  year.  His  residence  was  in 
Roxbury,  and  he  is  described  as  a  bricklayer.  His  handwriting 
would  indicate  that  his  education  was  good.  Being  disarmed  in 
1637  on  account  of  his  sympathy  with  the  Antinomian  party,  he 
departed  the  next  year  to  Rhode  Island,  but  in  1639  received  his 
dismission  to  the  church  in  Exeter.  There  he  was  allotted  four 
acres  and  twenty  poles  of  upland,  and  subscribed  the  Combination. 
In  1641  he  was  chosen  lieutenant  of  "the  band  of  soldiers,"  and 
in  1644  lot  layer.  Soon  afterwards  he  left  Exeter,  and  in  1646 
was  described  as  of  Boston.     Later  he  returned  to  Rhode  Island, 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  23 

where  his  intelligence  and  business  capacity  were  rewarded  with 
the  office  of  Solicitor  General,  wliich  he  held  in  1656,  and  two  or 
three  subsequent  years. 

5.  Edward  Colcord  was  born  in  1616  or  1617  and  came  to  this 
country  in  1631.  For  the  next  seven  years  he  probably  lived 
somewhere  on  the  Pascataqua,  and  being  an  active  man  and 
acquainted  with  the  Indians  he  rendered  assistance  to  Wheelwright 
in  obtaining  his  land  grants  from  the  sagamores,  and  was  a  party 
to  one  of  the  deeds. 

A  religious  colony  could  not  have  been  greatly  to  his  taste,  and 
in  1640  he  had  removed  to  Dover,  where  he  was  a  magistrate  to 
end  small  causes.  But  in  1645  he  was  a  resident  of  Hampton, 
and  the  following  year  saw  him  back  again  at  Exeter,  where  he 
obtained  a  grant  of  lands  from  the  town,  and  the  right  of  an 
inhabitant.  It  is  doubtful  if  he  availed  himself  of  this,  for  in 
1652  the  town  again  voted  to  receive  him,  together  with  two 
others,  as  inhabitants,  and  invited  them  to  take  up  their  residence 
in  Exeter.  Colcord  received  more  than  one  grant  from  the  town, 
and  was  appointed  to  some  minor  offices.  But  he  was  incorrigibly 
litigious  and  something  of  a  rolling  stone,  and  after  a  brief  sojourn 
in  the  town  he  made  himself  a  home  in  Hampton,  where  he  died 
February  10,  1681-2.  He  and  his  wife  Ann  had  ten  childi-en, 
several  of  whom  were  married.  Their  descendants  still  live  in 
Exeter  and  the  vicinity. 

6.  William  Cole  was  of  Boston  February  20,  1637,  when  he 
received  an  allotment  of  two  acres  of  land  "  only  for  his  present 
planting,"  at  Mount  Wollastou.  No  doubt  he  was  a  parishioner 
there  of  Wheelwright,  and  certainly  was  one  of  his  earliest  com- 
panions at  Exeter,  for  he  witnessed  one  of  the  Indian  deeds  of 
April  3,  1638.  In  the  first  division  of  lands  he  received  a  share 
both  in  the  marshes  and  the  uplands,  and  he  was  a  signer  of  the 
Combination.  He  was  appointed  an  overseer  of  fences  in  1643, 
but  probably  soon  followed  Wheelwright  to  Wells.  He  after- 
wards removed  to  Hampton,  where  his  wife  Eunice  became  "  vehe- 
mently suspected  "  of  being  a  witch.  He  died  in  Hampton  May 
26,  1662,  aged  eighty-one  years.  His  descendants  are  still  found 
in  the  vicinity. 

7.  John  Compton  was  of  Eoxbury  in  1634,  and  was  disarmed 
in  1637  for  his  adhesion  to  the  AVheelwright  party.  The  circum- 
stance that  a  summons  was  issued  March  12,  1638,  to  him  and 
others   who  "had  licence  to  depart"  out   of   Massachusetts,  to 


24  IIISTOllY  OF  EXETER. 

appear  at  the  uext  court  if  they  were  uot  gone  before,  was  not 
likely  to  have  prolonged  his  stay  there,  and  it  is  safe  to  infer  that 
he  was  at  the  falls  of  the  Squamscot  withAVheelwright  on  April  3, 
1638,  as  he  was  a  grantee  in  one  of  the  Indian  deeds  then  exe- 
cuted. In  the  first  division  of  lands  he  received  a  considerable 
share  both  of  marsh  and  upland.  He  did  not  subscribe  the  Com- 
bination, but  probably  soon  returned  to  Boston,  where  the  Book 
of  Possessions  shows  that  he  owned  a  house  and  garden,  about 
lGrj2. 

H.  Lawrence  Copeland  was  of  Braiutree  and  presuinably  a  pa- 
rishioner of  Wheelwright.  lie  was  in  Exeter  April  3,  1638,  and 
witnessed  one  of  tlie  Indian  deeds  of  that  date.  It  is  not  probable 
that  he  remained  long  in  the  town.  He  returned  to  Braiutree  to 
reside,  where  he  attained  the  extraordinary  age  of  one  hundred 
years. 

9.  John  Cram  probably  ])egan  to  live  in  Boston  as  early  as  1635, 
and  in  1637  was  assigned  sixteen  acres  of  land  at  Muddy  Eiver 
(Brookline).  At  the  first  division  of  lauds  in  Exeter  he  was  no 
doubt  settled  there,  as  he  was  allotted  eight  acres  and  forty  poles 
of  upland  ;  he  was  also  a  signer  of  the  Combination.  He  had  a 
wife  and  two  or  more  children  when  he  came  to  Exeter.  His  sou 
Josepli,  supposed  to  be  the  oldest,  was  drowned  June  24,  1648, 
aged  fifteen  years  ;  and  his  daughter  Lydia  was  born  July  27  of 
the  same  year.  He  served  as  townsman  in  1648  and  1641)  and 
soon  after  removed  to  Hampton  and  there  died  March  5,  1681-2. 
The  town  record  commemorates  him  as  "•  good  old  John  Cram,  one 
just  in  his  generation."  He  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being 
named  Lydia  ;  his  second  Esther.  His  descendants  are  still  found 
in  the  vicinit3^ 

10.  Thomas  Crawley,  of  whom  nothing  is  learned,  prior  to  his 
appearance  in  Exeter.  His  name  does  not  occur  in  the  first  ap- 
portionment of  lands,  but  as  he  subscribed  the  Combination,  it  is 
very  likely  that  he  came  to  I^xeter  between  January  and  April, 
1640.  In  1644-.)  he  had  a  grant  of  a  house  lot  of  four  acres  on 
condition  of  building  upon  it  and  fencing  it  within  a  twelvemonth. 
Other  grants  were  subsequently  made  him  ))3'  the  town,  the  most 
important  of  which  was  that  of  a  saw-mill  privilege,  in  the  present 
Brentwood,  in  1652,  which  has  been  known  as  "■  Crawley's  falls," 
to  this  day.  He  had  children,  one  of  whom  was  named  Phebe,  a 
minor  in  1660.  Crawley  probably  went  to  Maine,  where  his  name 
was  afterwards  found. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  25 

11.  Godfrey  Dearborn  was  from  Devonshire  in  Elngland,  perhaps 
from  the  city  of  E^xeter,  and  brought  to  the  new  Exeter  a  wife  and 
two  or  three  children.  An  assignment  of  ten  acres  and  fifty  poles 
of  upland  was  made  him,  and  his  name  is  affixed  to  the  Combina- 
tion. Later  he  received  other  grants  of  land,  and  in  1648  was  one 
of  the  selectmen.  It  has  been  supposed  that  he  lived  in  what  is 
now  Stratham,  near  the  Scammon  place.  About  1650  he  removed 
to  Hampton.  His  wife  having  died  he  married  November  25,  1662, 
Dorothy,  the  widow  of  Philemon  Daltou,  and  himself  died  Febru- 
ary 4,  1686.     His  posterity  is  numerous. 

12.  Henry  Elkius,  a  tailor,  was  of  Boston  in  1634,  and  there 
had  an  assignment  of  eight  acres  of  land  in  1637.  Sidina;  with 
Wheelwright  in  the  theological  controversy  of  that  year,  he  was 
disarmed,  and  came  in  1638  to  P^xeter.  He,  with  his  wife  Mary, 
was  dismissed  from  the  Boston  church  to  that  of  Exeter  March  3, 
1630.     They  had  a  daughter,  Maria,  baptized  in  Boston,  April  8, 

1638.  In  the  first  division  of  lands  in  P^xeter  he  received  one  of 
the  smaller  shares  of  upland  ;  and  he  set  his  name  to  the  Combina- 
tion. He  continued  in  P^xeter  till  1645,  but  some  time  afterwards 
removed  to  Hampton  and  died  there  November  19,  1668. 

13.  Darby  Yield  is  described  by  Winthrop  as  an  Irishman, 
though  some  slight  evidence  has  been  discovered  to  connect  his 
patron3'mic  with  the  Hutchinson  famil3\  He  appeared  in  P^xeter 
as  one  of  the  grantees  of  the  Indian  deed  of  April  3,  1638,  and 
witnessed  the  deed  of    confirmation  of   Watohantowet  April   10, 

1639.  He  had  no  share  in  the  first  division  of  lands,  but  was  a 
subscriber  of  the  Combination.  He  is  noted  as  the  first  European 
who  visited  the  White  mountains,  which  he  did  in  1642.  In  1645 
he  was  living  at  Oyster  river,  now  Durham,  and  died  in  1649,  leav- 
ing children. 

14.  Gal)riel  P'ish,  fisherman,  was  an  early  inhabitant  of  Boston 
and  moved  to  Exeter  in  1638.  On  the  third  of  August,  1639,  he 
gave  Edward  Rishworth  a  letter  of  attorney  to  receive  ten  pounds 
from  James  Carrington  of  Thorsthorpe  in  Lincolnshire,  P^nglaud  ; 
whence  we  may  infer  that  he,  perhaps,  came  from  that  great  hive 
of  the  friends  of  Wheelwright.  After  Fish  was  arrested  for  speak- 
ing against  the  king,  as  has  already  been  mentioned,  he  probabl}'- 
thought  it  wise  to  return  to  Boston,  where  apparently  his  offence 
was  easily  condoned.  The  records  show  the  birth  and  baptism  of 
several  of  his  children  there  in  1642  and  subsequently.  Fish  was 
a  householder  in  Boston,  according  to  the  Book  of  Possessions, 
compiled  al^ont  1652. 


26  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

15.  Isaac  Gross,  of  Boston  in  1635,  was  termed  hnsbaudman, 
and  received  a  "  great"  allotment  of  fifty  acres  of  land  at  Muddy 
River  in  1637.  Being  a  friend  of  Cotton  and  Wheelwright  he  was 
disarmed,  and  followed  the  latter  to  Exeter.  There  in  the  first 
di\asion  of  lands  he  had,  under  tlie  honoi'ary  title  of  "Mr.,"  an 
assignment  of  twenty-eight  acres  and  one  hundred  and  forty  poles 
of  upland,  and  of  marshland  six  acres  and  fifty  poles  "on  this 
side  of  Mr.  Hilton's  "  and  two  acres  at  Lamprey  river.  From  this 
liberal  allowance,  it  is  to  be  inferred  that  he  had  a  considerable 
family,  and  also  an  unusual  number  of  cattle.  He  was  dismissed 
January  6,  1639,  from  the  Boston  to  the  Exeter  church,  and  was 
chosen  the  first  Ruler  of  the  plantation  of  Exeter,  in  w^hich  capac- 
ity he  served  about  a  year,  probably.  He  returned  to  Boston  "  in 
a  few  years,"  according  to  Savage,  and  there  died  in  1649,  leav- 
ing a  good  estate  to  be  divided  among  his  widow,  children  and 
grandchildren. 

16.  Ralph  Hall,  said  to  be  a  son  of  John  Hall,  senior,  and  a 
brother  of  Deacon  John  Hall  of  Dover,  was  born  in  1618.  If, 
therefore,  as  tradition  asserts,  he  was  located  in  Exeter  before  the 
arrival  of  Wheelwright's  company,  he  could  not  have  been  above 
twenty  years  of  age.  It  is  understood  that  he  lived  on  the  eastern 
side  of  the  salt  river,  down  nearly  to  the  mouth  of  Wheelwright's 
creek.  It  might  have  been  for  that  reason  that  he  had  no  share  in 
the  first  division  of  lands,  but  his  name  appears  to  the  Combina- 
tion. He  may  have  lived  in  Charlestown  about  1647  with  his  wife 
Mary,  as  has  been  alleged.  The  Exeter  records  show  the  death 
of  his  daughter  Mercy  in  July,  1648,  aged  about  one  year  and  a 
half,  and  the  birth  of  his  daughter  Hildea,  April  16,  1649.  He  is 
said  to  have  gone  to  Dover  in  1650.  But  he  returned  to  Exeter 
fourteen  years  afterward,  Avhen  he  was  admitted  an  inhabitant, 
October  10,  1664,  and  received  a  grant  of  fifty  acres  of  laud.  He 
was  a  lieutenant,  then  an  officer  of  responsibility,  and  held  various 
positions  of  trust  in  the  town,  the  most  important  being  that  of 
delegate  to  the  first  provincial  assembly  iu  1680.  His  death  took 
place  in  March,  1701.  Some  of  his  descendants  have  been  men  of 
note,  and  the  name  has  always  been  kept  alive  in  the  town. 

17.  Christoplier  Helme,  a  Lincolnshire  man,  connected  by 
blood  with  others  of  the  Exeter  ijioneers,  arrived  iu  Boston  in 
July,  1637,  no  doubt,  and  was  suffered  to  remain  there  not  above 
four  months,  so  that  he  probably  reached  Exeter  among  the  fore- 
most.    He  received  no  share  in  the  first  allotment  of  lands,  for 


HISTOEY  OF  EXETER.  27 

what  reason  it  is  not  known,  but  he  set  his  hand  to  the  Combina- 
tion. Upon  tlie  departure  of  Wheelwright  in  1643,  Hehne  returned 
for  a  little  time  to  Boston,  and  thence  migrated  with  the  Gorton- 
,ists  to  Warwick,  Rhode  Island.  There  he  died  before  December, 
1650,  leaving  a  widow  Margaret  and  a  son  William.  Some  of  his 
name,  presumably  descendants,  have  been  prominent  in  Rhode 
Island. 

18.  Edward  Hilton  has  already  been  mentioned.  The  records 
of  Exeter  show  that  he  was  settled  and  had  a  house  in  the  part  of 
Exeter  which  is  now  South  Newmarket,  at  least  at  early  as  Decem- 
ber, 1639.  He  became  a  leading  man  in  the  place,  serving  as 
townsman  or  selectman  from  1645  nearly  every  year  up  to  1652. 
In  1646  he  was  one  of  the  purchasers  of  Wheelwright's  house,  in 
order  that  it  might  be  used  as  the  residence  of  the  Rev.  Nathaniel 
Norcross,  afterwards  of  Lancaster,  who  had  been  invited  to  settle 
in  Exeter ;  and  after  the  declination  of  Mr.  Norcross  he  was  in 
1650  one  of  the  inhabitants  who,  in  behalf  of  the  town,  entered 
into  the  engagement  with  the  Rev.  Samuel  Dudley  to  become  their 
minister.  Mr.  Hilton  was  repeatedly  chosen  by  the  inhabitants 
on  important  committees  to  look  after  their  interests,  and  was  in 
all  respects  a  useful  and  valuable  citizen.  He  died  early  in  the 
year  1671. 

19.  William  Hilton,  a  brother  of  Edward,  and  a  member  of  the 
Fishmongers'  Guild  of  London,  came  over  to  Plymouth  in  the  ship 
Fortune,  November  11,  1621.  There  he  remained  till  the  arrival 
of  his  wife  and  two  children  in  the  Anne,  in  July  or  August,  1623. 
In  a  little  time  afterwards  they  settled  themselves  on  the  Pascat- 
aqua  with  Edward  Hilton  at  or  near  Dover.  In  the  first  division 
of  lands  in  Exeter,  he  was  assigned  three  acres  of  marsh,  and  it 
was  voted  that  he  and  John  Smart  were  to  have  lots  on  the  other 
(eastern)  side  of  the  river,  where  it  should  be  thought  most  con- 
venient;  and  on  the  third  of  February,  1641,  it  was  agreed  by 
the  town  that  he  might  enjoy  certain  marshes  and  uplands  at 
Oyster  river.  He  seems  to  have  occupied  some  part  of  the  de- 
batable ground  between  Exeter  and  Dover,  but  was  perhaps 
accounted  a  citizen  of  the  latter  place.  This  was  certainly  the 
case  in  1644  when  he  was  chosen  a  deputy  to  the  Massachusetts 
General  Court  from  Dover.  But  shortly  afterwards  he  went 
further  to  the  eastward,  and  maintained  much  the  same  divided 
citizenship  between  Kittcry  and  York.  His  death  occurred  in 
the  latter  place  in  1665  or  1666. 


28  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

20.  Samuel  Hutchiuson  was  an  unmarried  brother  of  Mrs. 
Wheelwright,  and  no  doubt  landed  in  Boston  with  other  Lincoln- 
shire friends  July  12,  1637,  and  was  upon  his  special  request 
licensed  to  remain  there  until  the  first  month  after  winter.  Then 
he  proceeded  to  Exeter,  and  was  made  a  grantee  in  one  of  the 
Indian  deeds  of  April,  1638.  Little  more  than  a  month  after- 
wards a  grant  of  land  appears  to  have  been  made  him  in  Rhode 
Island,  where  his  brother  William  had  gone.  Though  Samuel 
resided  there  at  a  later  period,  he  probably  did  not  go  at  once,  but 
staid  for  a  year  or  two  in  and  about  Exeter.  His  mother,  Mrs. 
Susanna  Hutchinson,  was  there,  an  inmate  of  Wheelwright's 
family,  as  probably  he  was  also.  He,  with  Needham  and  others, 
negotiated  with  Tliomas  Gorges,  September  27,  1641,  for  the 
tract  of  land  at  Wells,  Avhicli  was  the  second  place  of  refuge  of 
AVheel Wright  and  his  followers.  He  died  in  Boston,  it  is  believed, 
in  1677. 

21.  Christopher  Lawson,  a  connection  of  Helme  and  others  of 
the  Combination,  without  much  question  arrived  with  them  from 
Lincolnshire  at  Boston  in  New  England,  in  July,  1637,  and  proba- 
bly proceeded  to  Exeter  the  next  year.  His  name  appears  on  the 
Combination,  but  not  in  the  division  of  lands.  He  was  a  cooper 
by  trade,  and  a  trader  by  nature.  Some  of  his  dealings  in  Exeter 
appeared  rather  too  sharp  for  the  primitive  fashions  of  the  place, 
and  on  the  fifth  of  September,  1643,  he  was  bound  over  in  the  sum 
of  ten  pounds  to  answer  to  the  charge  of  extortion  brought  against 
him  by  five  of  his  neighbors.  Apparently  his  character  was  not 
seriously  affected  by  this  circumstance  ;  for  the  town  bestowed 
upon  him,  the  next  year,  a  right  of  fishery  in  the  river,  Avhich 
would  now  be  regarded  as  an  indefensible  monopoly.  Lawson 
vibrated  for  some  years  between  P^xeter  and  Boston,  two  of  his 
children  being  baptized  in  the  latter  place,  one  in  1643  and  the 
other  in  1645.  In  1648  he  was  a  member  of  a  committee  to  invite 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Tompson  of  Braintree  to  settle  over  the  church  in 
Exeter,  and  the  same  year  the  town  made  him  a  grant  of  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  land.  After  buying  and  selling  lots  in  Dover  and 
in  Boston,  and  dabbling  to  a  consideral)le  extent  in  shares  of  the 
"  Squamscot  Patent,"  Lawson  went,  before  1665,  to  Maine,  where 
he  became  a  considerable  man.  There  he  suffered  some  domestic 
infelicities,  which  resulted  in  ])ringing  mutual  complaints  between 
his  wife  Elizabeth  and  himself  before  the  General  Court  in  1669. 
And  there,  for  want  of  further  knowledge,  we  leave  him. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  29 

22.  Thomas  Leavitt  Avas^ry  probably  a  connection  of  Wheel- 
wright's wife,  and  another  of  those  "  friends  "  who  reached  Boston 
in  Jul}^  1637.  It  is  possible  that  he  proceeded  at  once  to  Exeter, 
and  thns  antedated  the  organized  settlement,  as  the  tradition  is. 
He  took  npland  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  fresh  river  jnst  above 
tlie  falls,  and  the  same  long  remained  in  the  possession  of  his 
descendants.  In  the  first  division  of  lands  he  received  one  of  the 
smaller  shares,  fonr  acres  and  twenty  poles  of  the  uplands  ;  being 
then  a  young  man,  for  he  lived  till  November  28,  1696.  His  name 
was  also  appended  to  the  Combination.  He  became  an  inhabitant 
of  Hampton  about  1643.  His  wife  was  Isabel,  daughter  of  John 
Bland  of  JMartha's  Vineyard,  who  came  from  Colchester,  England. 
They  had  eight  children,  and  numerous  descendants.  Three  of 
the  sons  were  probably  residents  of  Exeter. 

23.  Edmund  Littlelield  not  improbably  came  to  Boston  with 
Wheelwright's  other  friends  in  July,  1637,  accompanied  by  his  son 
Anthony.  His  wife  Ann  and  six  of  their  other  children  did  not 
accompany  him,  but  sailed  later,  and  reached  Boston  in  the  ship 
Bevis  in  May,  1638.  Littlelield  was  a  warm  partisan  of  Wheel- 
wright, and  probably  was  early  at  Exeter.  He  had  assigned  him 
in  the  first  division  of  lands,  twenty-one  acres  of  upland  ;  and 
was  a  subscriber  of  the  Combination.  The  circumstance  that  he 
had  no  share  of  the  meadows  implies  that  he  owned  no  cattle, 
which  is  lilvely  to  have  been  the  case,  as  he  was  a  new  comer  in 
the  countr3\  Littlefield  remained  in  Exeter  no  longer  than  Wheel- 
wright, but  accompanied  him  to  Wells,  where  he  was  a  leading 
man,  and  is  spoken  of  in  handsome  terms  by  Judge  Bourne  in  his 
history  of  that  town.     He  died  December  11,  1661. 

24.  Francis  Littlefield  was  the  eldest  son  of  Edmund,  and  was 
born  in  1619.  Tradition,  fortified  by  some  known  facts,  asserts 
that  he  had  at  an  early  age  quitted  his  parents,  who,  believing 
him  to  be  dead,  gave  the  name  Francis  to  another  son  born  in 
1631  ;  but  that  the  older  Francis,  who  was  really  living,  crossed 
the  Atlantic  and  rejoined  his  father,  probably  at  Exeter,  and 
before  the  division  of  the  uplands  in  1639.  In  that  division  he 
received  one  of  the  smaller  shares,  foin*  acres  and  twenty  poles. 
It  is  probable  that  he  was  already  married,  or  he  would  hardly' 
have  had  an  assignment  separate  from  his  father's.  He  probabl}' 
left  Exeter  as  early  as  his  father  did,  and  went  to  Woburn, 
Massachusetts,  where  his  wife  Jane  died  December  20,  1646, 
leaving  a  daughter  six  days  old.     Shortly  afterwards  he  went  to 


30  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Dover.  In  1648  he  was  again  married,  and  after  two  or  three 
years  removed  to  Wells,  and  there  passed  the  rest  of  his  long  life. 
He  died  in  1712,  leaving  several  children. 

25.  Christopher  Marshall  was  of  Boston  in  1634,  and  joined 
the  church  in  August  of  that  year.  He  was  admitted  freeman  May 
6,  1635  ;  in  1637  belonged  to  the  party  of  Cotton  and  Wheelwright. 
He  was  married  between  August,  1634,  and  May  13,  1638,  and 
was  dismissed  to  the  church  at  Exeter,  January  6,  1639,  but  did 
not  remain  long  in  the  place.  Savage  thinks  he  returned  to  Eng- 
land in  1640  or  1641,  and  nothing  more  is  learned  of  him. 

26.  Francis  Mathews  was  one  of  the  company  sent  over  by 
John  Mason  in  1631.  He  was  a  signer  of  the  Combination,  but 
probably  soon  afterwards  removed  to  the  part  of  Dover  which  is 
now  Durham,  with  his  wif e  Thomasine  and  three  children.  There 
he  died  about  1648,  and  his  descendants  in  Strafford  county  have 
been  numerous.     They  more  commonly  spell  the  name  Matlies. 

27.  Grifflu  Montague  was  of  Brookline  in  1635.  He  received 
in  December,  1639,  ten  acres  and  fifty  poles  in  the  division  of 
uplands  in  P^xeter,  and  one  acre  and  thirty-six  poles  in  the  division 
of  the  marsh  "  next  the  town."  From  this  we  infer  that  he  had  a 
family  and  some  cattle.  His  name  appears  several  times  upon  the 
Exeter  records  within  the  ensuing  twelve  years.  He  belonged  to 
Cape  Porpoise,  Maine,  in  1653,  and  died  before  April  1,  1672, 
leaving  his  property  to  his  wife  Margaret. 

28.  William  Moore  (spelled  Mauer  or  Mawer)  was  probably  the 
same  person  to  whom  it  appeared  to  the  selectmen  of  Boston,  on 
the  twenty-sixth  of  September,  1636,  that  William  Hudson  had 
"  sold  a  house  plot  and  garden  without  the  consent  of  the  appointed 
allotters,  contrary  to  a  former  order,  said  Mawer  being  a  stranger." 
On  February  19,  1638,  there  was  granted  to  him  "  a  great  lot  at 
the  Mount  (Wollaston)  for  nine  heads."  On  February  7,  1640, 
he  w-as  described  as  "  late  of  Boston,"  in  a  conveyance  which  he 
made  to  Captain  Edward  Gibbon,  for  fifteen  pounds,  of  one  house 
and  garden  plot  with  the  building  thereon  and  appurtenances. 
William  Moore  received  in  Exeter  in  December,  1639,  twenty-two 
acres  and  one  hundred  and  ten  poles,  in  the  division  of  the 
uplands,  two  acres  and  forty  poles  in  the  marsh  "  on  tliis  side  of 
Mr.  Hilton's,"  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  poles  of  that  at 
Lamprey  river  ;  the  amount  of  the  former  corresponding  well  with 
the  "nine  heads"  of  his  family,  and  the  latter  showing  that  he 
was  possessed  of  cattle.     He  did  not  subscribe  the  Combination, 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  31 

for  what  reason  is  unknown.  He  remained  a  lifelong  inhabitant 
of  the  town,  and  bore  his  share  of  its  burdens,  as  well  as  enjoyed 
its  rewards  and  honors.  He  received  grants  of  lands,  and  held 
various  offices  of  responsibility.  He  was  a  captain  in  the  militia  ; 
and  the  last  appearance  of  his  name  upon  the  records  is  as  mod- 
erator of  a  town  meeting  in  1699.  He  must  have  been  then  an 
old  man,  and  probably  died  soon  afterwards.  He  left  numerous 
descendants. 

29.  Richard  Morris  was  of  Boston,  having  probably  immigrated 
thither  in  the  fleet  with  Winthrop  in  1630  ;  and  in  1631  was,  with 
his  wife  Leonora,  admitted  to  the  church.  At  that  time  he  was 
styled  sergeant ;  in  1633  he  was  made  ensign,  and  later  lieutenant. 
He  was  deputy  to  the  General  Court  in  1635  and  1636,  and  the 
next  year  was  in  coimnand  of  the  fort  at  Castle  Island.  Appar- 
ently something  had  occurred  to  weaken  his  standing  with  the 
authorities  before  1637,  but  in  that  year  he  forfeited  all  their  good 
will  by  signing  a  remonstrance  in  favor  of  Wheelwright ;  so  that 
he  was  disarmed,  and  retired  to  Exeter,  the  next  year,  probably. 
In  the  first  division  of  lands  he  received  thirty-three  acres  of 
upland,  and  seven  acres  and  forty  poles  of  marsh ;  so  he  probably 
had  a  considerable  household  and  cattle.  His  name  appears  on 
the  records  with  the  honorable  prefix  of  "Mr."  He  was  a  signer 
of  the  Combination,  and  was  dismissed  to  the  church  at  Exeter  in 
January,  1639.  It  is  probable  that  Mr.  Morris  did  not  care  to 
remain  in  Exeter  after  Wheelwright's  departure,  and  the  extension 
of  the  jurisdiction  of  Massachusetts  over  the  New  Hampshire  set- 
tlement ;  and  it  seems  likely  that  he  was  the  person  of  that  name 
who  went  to  Portsmouth,  lihode  Island,  in  1643,  and  was  living 
there  in  1655. 

30.  Nicholas  Needham  was  of  Boston  in  1636,  and  received  on 
the  twentieth  of  February  of  that  year  an  allotment  of  two  acres 
of  land  at  Mount  Wollaston,  "only  for  his  present  planting." 
No  doubt  a  parishioner  and  sympathizer  of  Wheelwright,  he  proba- 
bly came  with  him  to  Exeter,  as  he  Avas  made  a  grantee  in  one  of 
the  Indian  deeds  of  1638.  In  the  apportionment  of  the  lauds,  he 
received  twelve  acres  and  sixty  poles  of  upland,  and  four  acres  of 
marsh.  He  also  set  his  signature  to  the  Combination.  Being 
elected  the  second  Ruler  of  the  settlement,  he  held  the  office  about 
two  years,  when  he  resigned  it  October  20,  1642.  His  rcBidence 
in  Exeter  did  not  outlast  that  of  Wheelwright.  Foreseeing  the 
hour  of  need,  he,  with  others,  negotiated  with  Thomas  Gorges  iu 


32  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

1641  for  a  tract  of  land  in  Wells,  to  which  \yheelwrlght  and  his 
immediate  friends  retired,  when  the  long  arm  of  Massachusetts 
power  was  extended  over  the  New  Hampshire  plantations.  The 
historian  of  Wells  is  not  certain  whether  Needham  settled  in  that 
place.  If  he  did  not  his  subsequent  history  is  unascertained. 
Savage  thinks  he  was  living  in  1652. 

31.  Thomas  Pettit  was  of  Boston  in  1634,  from  which  time  he 
served  for  three  years  and  a  half  with  Oliver  Mellows,  and  there- 
upon January  8,  1638,  received  from  the  town  a  grant  of  a  house 
plot  "  towards  the  new  mylne."  Mellows  was  in  sympathy  with 
Wheelwright,  and  was  disarmed  in  1637,  and  it  w^ould  be  very 
natural  that  his  journeyman  should  be  led  by  the  same  feeling  to 
migrate  to  the  ne  sv  settlement  which  Wheelwright  was  founding. 
Pettit  received  six  acres  and  thirty  poles  as  his  share  of  the  Exeter 
uplands,  and  also  affixed  his  name  to  the  Combination.  He  was 
for  a  while  a  man  of  some  prominence  in  the  town  and  served  as 
selectman  in  16o2  and  1655,  after  which  his  name  disappears  from 
the  records.  His  wife  was  named  Christian  ;  the}^  had  a  daughter 
Hannah,  born  in  Hxeter  in  the  beginning  of  February,  1647-8. 
His  son,  Thomas  Pettit,  Jr.,  had  a  grant  of  thirty  acres  of  land  in 
1649. 

32.  Philemon  Pormort  was  married  in  Alford,  Lincolnshire, 
England,  October  11,  1627,  to  Susanna,  daughter  of  William 
Belliugham.  They  emigrated  to  Nevr  England,  probably  with  one 
child  or  more,  and  were  admitted  to  the  Boston  church  in  August, 
1634.  He  was  chosen  schoolmaster  April  13,  1635,  and  in  1637 
had  a  grant  of  tliirty  acres  of  land.  Pormort  was  an  adherent  of 
Wheelwright,  having  quite  likely  known  liim  in  England,  and  was, 
on  Wheelwright's  expulsion  from  Massachusetts  Bay,  advised  to 
depart  himself,  on  pain  of  imprisonment ;  therefore  he  came  to 
Exeter.  He  was  a  subscriber  of  the  Combination,  was  dismissed 
in  January,  1630,  to  the  Exeter  church,  and  received  fourteen 
acres  and  seventy  poles  in  the  division  of  the  uplands.  He  had 
three  children,  at  least,  born  in  this  country,  one  or  two  of  them  at 
Exeter.  He  went  with  Wheelwright  to  Wells,  and,  according  to 
the  historian  of  that  town,  remained  there  some  years,  taking  an 
active  part  in  the  affairs  of  the  church,  but  at  length  Avas  denied 
tlie  privilege  of  conununion  for  the  reason  that  his  theological 
views  did  not  agree  with  those  of  the  ruling  powers  in  Massachu- 
setts. He  was  in  Boston  in  1653,  and  is  supposed  to  have  re- 
moved thence  to  Great  Island  or  Portsmouth.  Descendants 
bearing  his  name  have  till  lately  lived  in  the  vicinity. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETEll.  33 

33.  Robert  Read  was  of  Boston  as  early  as  1635,  and  in  Exeter 
early  enongli  to  be  entitled  to  an  allotment  of  nine  acres  and  fifty 
poles  in  the  division  of  the  uplands,  and  to  set  his  name  to  the 
Combination.  lie  removed  to  Hampton  after  1645,  according  to 
Kelly,  and  afterwards  to  Boston,  and  finally  to  Hampton  again, 
according  to  Quint.  To  him  and  his  wife  Hannah  were  born  three 
children:  Rebecca,  September  29,  1646;  Deborah,  January  25, 
1649;  and  Samuel,  who  was  baptized  April  3,  1653,  and  died 
March  31,  1654.  Read's  wife  died  June  24,  1655,  and  he  himself 
was  drowned  October  20,  1657,  with  six  others  by  the  upsetting 
of  a  boat  sailing  out  of  Hampton  river  ;  a  catastrophe  on  which 
was  founded  Whittier's  poem  of  the  Wreck  of  Ri vermouth. 

34.  Edward  Rishworth  was  baptized  at  Saleby  in  Lincolnshire, 
England,  May  5,  1617.  In  all  probability  he  came  to  this  coun- 
try with  others  of  Wheelwright's  friends  in  Jul}",  1637,  and 
became  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Exeter.  He  appears  to  have 
])een  nearly  connected,  by  his  marriage,  with  the  family  of  "Wheel- 
wright's wife.  In  the  division  of  the  uplands  he  was  awarded  one 
of  the  smaller  shares,  and  he  was  a  signer  of  the  Combination. 
In  1640  he  was  chosen  by  the  court  of  the  town  to  be  ''  Secretary, 
to  look  to  the  book,  and  to  enter  all  actions  that  are  brought." 
This  undoubtedly  included  the  functions  of  Town  Clerk.  Wlien 
Wheelwright  left  P^xeter,  Rishworth  departed  Avith  him  to  Wells, 
where  he  became  a  man  of  consequence.  He  was  a  magistrate 
and  a  representative  of  York,  to  which  place  he  removed  from 
Wells,  for  thirteen  years.  He  lived  to  be  nearly  seventy,  and  a 
son  of  his,  bearing  the  same  name,  was  the  husband  of  Wheel- 
wright's daughter  Susanna. 

35.  Henry  Roby  was  of  the  Combination,  but  had  no  share  in 
the  first  division  of  the  uplands  or  meadows  ;  so  very  likely  he 
did  not  come  to  Exeter  till  the  spring  of  1640.  He  was  granted 
liberty  in  1649,  with  others,  to  set  up  a  saw-mill,  and  in  1650  was 
chosen  selectman.  Soon  afterwards  he  removed  to  Hampton 
where  he  died  in  the  spring  of  1688.  After  the  erection  of  New 
Hampshire  into  a  royal  province,  Roby  was  appointed  a  judge  of 
the  Court  of  Sessions,  before  which  the  Rev.  Joshua  Moody  was 
tried  in  1684  for  refusing  to  administer  the  Lord's  Supper  in  the 
form  set  forth  in  the  book  of  common  prayer,  to  Governor  Cranfield. 
Roby  was  at  first  for  acquitting  Moody,  but  Cranfield  "found 
means  "  to  gain  him  over,  and  he  concurred  with  other  justices  in 
the  judgment  of  condemnation.     In  his  later  years  Roby  is  said 


;]4  HISTOIIY  OF  EXETER. 

by  Kelly  to  have  become  intemperate  and  embarrassed,  so  that  at 
his  death  he  was  buried  hastily  to  avoid  arrest  of  his  body.  His 
wife  was  named  Kuth,  and  they  had  several  children.  His  descend- 
ants are  still  found  in  this  region. 

36.  George  Ruobone  or  Rabone  was  assigned  one  of  the  smaller 
shares  in  the  division  of  the  uplands  ;  and  was  a  subscriber  of  the 
Combination.  He  appears  to  have  remained  in  Exeter  but  a  short 
time,  as  he  is  represented  by  Judge  Bourne  in  his  history  of  AVells, 
to  have  been  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  that  place  "before 
Wheelwright  and  his  fellow  refugees  came  from  Exeter."  He 
seems  afterwards  to  have  changed  his  rather  unusual  name  to 
Haborne,  and  under  that  designation  is  described  in  a  deed  as  of 
Hampton  in  1G50. 

37.  Robert  Seward  subscribed  the  Combination,  but  had  no 
share  of  the  nplands,  having  probably  not  arrived  in  P^xeter  before 
the  spring  of  lG-40.  He  staid  but  a  brief  time,  and  was  living  in 
Portsmouth  in  1649,  after  which  nothing  has  been  ascertained 
respecting  him. 

38.  John  Smart  came  from  the  county  of  Norfolk,  England,  to 
Hingham,  Massachusetts,  in  1635,  with  his  wife  and  two  sons, 
and  in  September  of  that  year  drew  his  house  lot  there.  He  came 
to  Exeter  in  time  to  receive  an  assignment  of  one  acre  and  twenty- 
six  poles  of  the  meadows  "  next  the  town,"  which  implies  that  he 
had  cattle  or  goats.  The  lands  he  first  took  up  appear  to  have 
been  situated  on  the  eastern  or  Stratham  side  of  the  river,  and  he 
did  not  subscribe  the  Combination.  But  he  was  a  public-spirited 
citizen,  and  joined  with  others  in  the  agreement  to  purchase 
Wheelwright's  house,  to  be  used  as  a  parsonage.  He  lived  in  the 
northerly  part  of  the  town,  now  Newmarket,  and  his  descendants 
live  there  still. 

39.  Robert  Smith  is  thought  to  have  been  of  Boston  in  1638. 
In  the  division  of  the  Hxeter  uplands  he  had  six  acres  and  thirty 
poles,  a  share  one-half  larger  than  the  smallest ;  and  his  name  was 
affixed  to  the  Combination.  When  the  town  came  under  the  Mas- 
sachusetts government,  on  tlie  seventh  of  September,  1643,  he  was 
appointed  one  of  the  magistrates  "  to  end  small  business  at  Exe- 
ter." After  a  residence  of  some  years  in  the  place  he  removed  to 
Hampton.  Hon.  Joseph  Smith,  a  judge  of  the  Superior  Court, 
and  a  :nan  useful  and  prominent  in  his  day,  was  his  son. 

40.  Anthony  Stau3'an,  described  as  glover,  was  a  passenger 
from  England  to  Boston  in  1635,  and  in  February,  1637-8,  had 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  35 

assigned  to  him  "  a  great  lot  for  eleven  heads"  at  Mount  Wollas- 
tou.  In  P^xeter,  in  December,  1639,  there  were  awarded  to  him, 
under  the  honorary  designation  of  "  Mr.,"  twenty-seven  acres  and 
one  hundred  and  thirty-five  poles  of  upland,  and  ten  and  one-half 
acres  of  the  marshes.  These  large  grants  imply  that  he  had  a 
considerable  family,  and  a  good  number  of  cattle.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Exeter  church,  and  though  a  resident  of  the  town 
prior  to  the  execution  of  the  Combination,  did  not  set  his  hand  to 
it.  Possibly  he  was  in  doubt  whether  to  fix  his  residence  in  the 
new  settlement,  as  in  July,  KUl,  he  was  "granted  to  be  a  towns- 
man" of  Boston,  and  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  July,  1G42,  his  son 
John  was  baptized  there,  at  the  age  of  six  days.  But  if  he  medi- 
tated abandoning  Exeter  he  soon  changed  his  mind,  for  he  was 
back  again  in  May,  1643,  and  held  the  otfice  of  magistrate  to  end 
small  causes  in  1645,  and  that  of  town  clerk  in  1647.  Subse- 
quently he  removed  to  Hampton  from  which  he  was  representative 
to  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  in  1654.  He  was  living  in 
1683.  His  first  wife  was  named  Mary,  and  after  her  decease  he 
married,  January  1,  1656,  Ann,  widow  of  William  Partridge  of 
Salisbury,  jMassachusetts.  He  left  children  by  whom  liis  name 
has  been  handed  down  to  our  time. 

41.  Augustine  Storre  was  doubly  a  brother-in-law  of  Wheel- 
wrio-ht,  being  a  brother  of  his  first  wife,  and  the  husband  of  a 
sister  of  his  second.  He  undoubtedly  came  over  from  England  in 
July,  1637,  and  probably  left  Boston  in  the  autumn  following,  and 
was  in  P^xeter  in  the  spring  of  1638.  When  the  first  division  of 
lands  was  made,  he  was  allotted,  with  the  title  of  respect  of 
"  Mr.,"  twenty  acres  and  one  hundred  poles  of  upland,  and  two 
and  three-quarters  acres  of  the  marshes.  His  name  appears  on 
the  Combination,  the  next  in  order  to  Wheelwright's,  and  he  was 
chosen  an  assistant  to  the  first  Kuler.  It  is  evident  that  he  was 
held  in  high  esteem  by  the  inhabitants.  AVhen  Wheelwright's  resi- 
dence in  Exeter  came  to  an  end,  Storre,  as  might  be  expected 
from  their  connection,  quitted  the  place  also,  and  is  understood  to 
have  oone  to  Wells,  after  Avhich  nothing  is  learned  of  him. 

42.  Samuel  Walker  had  one  of  the  smaller  assignments  of  land 
in  Exeter,  and  was  a  signer  of  the  Combination.  Of  his  former 
history  nothing  has  been  discovered.  In  1643,  in  a  time  of 
scarcity,  he  was  one  of  those  appointed  by  the  town  to  appropriate 
and  dispose  of  to  the  needy,  any  corn  not  required  by  the  owners 
before  harvest.     This  appointment  speaks  well  for  his  character 


M  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

for  discretion  and  fairness.     It  is  supposed  that  he  left  the  town 
soon  afterwards,  probably  for  the  eastward. 

43.  James  Wall  was  a  carpenter,  and  was  sent  over  from  Eng- 
land, with  two  otjiers,  by  John  Mason,  the  patentee  of  New 
Hampshire.  They  came  in  the  Pied  Cow,  under  a  written  contract 
dated  March  14,  1634,  to  run  five  years,  by  which  they  were  em- 
ployed to  build  saw-mills  and  houses  for  him  at  Newichwannock. 
They  arrived  there  the  thirteenth  of  July  of  the  same  year,  and 
there  Wall  remained  till  some  time  after  the  death  of  Mason  in 
1635.  He  was  in  Exeter  April  3,  1638,  and  witnessed  one  of  the 
Indian  deeds  to  Wheelwright  of  that  date,  and  no  doubt  remained 
there  during  the  formation  of  the  settlement,  when  his  services  as 
a  carpenter  would  be  most  important.  On  the  assignment  of  the 
lands,  ten  acres  and  ninety  poles  of  uplands  and  something  less 
than  two  acres  of  the  marshes  fell  to  his  share.  His  name  also 
appears  upon  the  Combination.  He  mnst  have  lived  in  Exeter 
about  twelve  years,  and  was  a  useful  citizen,  repeatedly  intrusted 
with  town  offices.  In  1650  he  changed  his  residence  to  Hampton, 
and  died  there  October  3,  1659,  leaving  a  widow,  Mary,  and  two 
children. 

44.  George  Walton,  born  about  1615,  becams  an  inhabitant  of 
New  Hampshire  about  1635,  and  so  remained  till  his  death,  half  a 
century  later.  He  had  no  assignment  in  the  lirst  division  of  lands 
in  Exeter,  but  joined  in  establishing  the  Combination  a  few 
months  later ;  so  it  is  not  unlikely  that  he  came  to  Exeter  between 
those  events.  He  did  not  remain  very  long,  for  in  1648  he  was  in 
Dover,  where  he  was  licensed  to  keep  an  "  ordinary',"  and  in  1662 
was  a  vintner  in  Portsmouth.  His  later  years  were  passed  at  Great 
Island,  where  he  suffered  from  the  persecutions  of  a  "stone- 
throwing  demon,"  an  account  of  which  may  be  found  in  Mather's 
Magnolia  and  elsewhere.  Less  superstitious  persons,  however, 
attributed  his  tribulations  to  mischievous  human  agency.  His 
wife  was  named  Alice,  and  they  had  several  children,  one  of  whom 
was  Shadrach  Walton,  well  known  in  the  military,  civU  and  judi- 
cial service  of  the  province. 

45.  Thomas  Wardell,  a  shoemaker,  and  an  inhabitant  of  Lin- 
colnshire, England,  came  to  this  country,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
Boston  church  November  9,  1634.  By  his  wife  Elizabeth  he  had 
two  children,  baptized  in  Boston;  Eliakim,  November  23,  1634, 
and  Martha,  September  3,  1637,  and  two  others,  born  probably  in 
Exeter;  Benjamin,  in  February,  1640,  and  Samuel,  May  16,  1643. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER,  37 

lu  January,  1637,  he  was  allotted  twenty  acres  of  land  in  Boston, 
but  being  an  outspoken  supporter  of  Wheelwright  he  was  dis- 
armed;  and  thereupon  proceeded,  in  1638,  no  doubt,  to  Exeter. 
In  January,  1639,  he  was  recommended  by  the  Boston  church  to 
membership  in  that  formed  at  Exeter.  He  received  twelve  acres 
and  sixty  poles  in  the  division  of  the  Exeter  uplands,  and  was  a 
signer  of  the  Combination.  Evidently  he  was  a  man  in  whom  his 
townsmen  reposed  confidence  ;  for  in  1641  he  was  chosen  sergeant 
of  the  band  of  soldiers  in  Exeter,  and  approved  as  such  by  Nicho- 
las Needham,  Ruler  ;  in  1642  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  committee 
to  collect  and  distribute  to  the  poor  the  surplus  corn,  in  a  time  of 
scarcity  ;  and  in  1643  he  was  appointed  by  the  General  Court  of 
Massachusetts  a  magistrate  to  end  small  causes  in  Exeter.  But 
he  did  not  continue  there  very  long  afterwards.  It  is  uncertain 
whether  he  removed  to  Ipswich  or  to  Boston,  Avhere  the  death  of  a 
person  bearing  his  name  is  recorded  December  10,  1646. 

46.  William  Wardell,  supposed  to  be  a  brother  of  Thomas, 
probably  came  to  this  country  in  1633  with  Ednuuid  Quincy,  whose 
servant  he  is  described  as  being,  and  joined  the  Boston  church 
February  9,  1634.  By  his  wife  Alice  he  had  a  daughter  Meribah, 
born  May  14,  1637,  and  a  son  Uzell,  April  7,  1639  ;  the  latter 
born  in  Exeter.  He  received  in  Boston  February  20,  1636,  two 
acres  of  land  laid  out  at  the  Mount  (Wollaston)  only  for  his 
present  planting;  and  February  19,  1637,  a  great  lot  at  the  same 
place  "  for  three  heads."  But  the  next  year  he  migrated  to  I2xe- 
ter,  on  being  disarmed  as  a  friend  of  the  Antinomian  party.  He 
took  with  him  some  cattle,  or  goats,  as  it  appears  that  he  had  in 
the  first  division  of  lands  one  hundred  and  twenty  poles  of  meadow 
"  on  this  side  of  Mr.  Hilton's,"  and  the  same  quantity  at  Lamprey 
river.  He  also  had  ten  acres  and  fifty  poles  of  upland  ;  and  set  his 
hand  to  the  Combination.  He  left  Exeter  with  AYheelwright,  and 
his  name  is  subscribed  as  a  witness  to  the  deed  of  Sao-amore 
Thomas  Chabinocke  to  John  Wadleigh  at  Wells  October  18,  1649, 
and  attested  by  said  Wardell's  oath  March  25,  1657.  He  also 
swore  allegiance  to  Massachusetts  at  Wells  July  5,  1653.  Another 
person  of  the  same  name  was  living  in  Boston  at  the  same  time, 
but  whether  a  relative  is  not  known. 

47.  William  Wenbourne  was  of  Boston  in  1635,  in  which  year 
there  was  born  to  hun  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  a  son  John,  on  the 
twenty-second  of  November.  A  second  son  was  born  September 
21,  1638,  bearing  the  same  name,  the  former  one  having  doubtless 


38  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

died.  The  latter  part  of  the  next  year  Weiibourue  was  in  Exeter, 
where  he  was  allotted  seven  acres  and  thirty  poles  of  upland,  and 
a  few  months  later  signed  the  C!ombination.  Upon  the  town  being 
received  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Massachusetts,  he  was  appointed 
clerk  of  the  writs  and  one  of  the  three  inferior  magistrates.  He 
probably  returned  to  Boston  before  164:8,  where  he  was  chosen 
constable  in  1653,  and  was  living  in  1662.  The  name  of  A\"inborn 
has  been  preserved  in  Durham  up  to  recent  times,  so  it  is  not 
unlikely  that  his  descendants  are  still  to  be  found  in  the  vicinity. 

48.  William  AVentAvorth  was  a  native  of  Lincolnshire,  England, 
and  was  born  in  March,  1615-16.  He  was  a  family  connection  and 
parishioner  of  Wheelwright,  and  probably  came  to  this  country  in 
July,  1637,  in  the  vessel  with  others  of  Wheelwright's  "  friends." 
No  doubt  he  made  little  stay  in  Boston,  but  pushed  on  speedily  to 
the  Pascataqua  country,  and  was  one  of  the  earliest  at  the  settle- 
ment of  Exeter.  He  had  in  the  division  of  the  uplands  one  of  the 
small  shares,  and  set  his  signature,  in  excellent  chirography,  to 
the  Combination.  When  Massachusetts  began  to  stretch  out  her 
hand  over  the  New  Hampshire  towns,  he  joined  Wheelwright  in 
departing  into  Maine,  and  resided  in  Wells  until  1649,  when  he 
removed  to  Dover,  where,  with  the  exception  of  temporary 
absences,  he  spent  the  residue  of  his  life.  He  was  a  ruling  elder 
in  the  church,  and  as  such  was  a  preacher  and  expounder,  though 
not  technically  a  clergyman.  At  some  time  after  the  decease  of 
the  Rev.  Samuel  Dudley,  which  occurred  in  1683,  he  was  employed 
to  preach  at  Exeter,  and  continued  to  do  so  until  1693,  when  by 
reason  of  age  and  infirmity  he  was  compelled  to  desist.  He  lived, 
however,  till  March  15,  1696-7,  when  he  had  completed  his  eighty- 
first  year.  His  physical  vigor  was  remarkable,  as  is  evidenced  by 
his  successful  resistance  to  the  attempts  of  the  Indians  to  enter 
the  house  where  he  was  at  the  Dover  massacre  in  1689  ;  and  no  one 
of  the  little  company  of  Exeter  pioneers,  save  Wheelwright,  was 
of  a  more  sturdy  manhood  than  Wentworth.  He  was  the  progeni- 
tor of  a  long  line  of  descendants,  able  and  stalwart,  mentally  and 
physically  ;  three  of  whom  held  the  highest  executive  offices  in  the 
province  of  New  Hampshire  ;  others  have  sat  in  the  councils  of 
the  nation,  and  many  more  have  manifested  the  hereditary 
capacity  and  force  in  various  callings.  The  history  of  tlie  family 
has  been  laboriously  compiled  ]iy  one,  by  no  means  the  least  dis- 
tinguished of  Elder  Wentworth's  descendants. 

49.  John   Wheelwright   deserves    here    a   brief   sketch  of   his 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  39 

subsequent  career.  He  retreated  before  the  advance  of  Massachu- 
setts to  Wells  in  the  spring  of  1643,  and  while  he  was  there  the 
G-eneral  Court,  in  not  the  most  gracious  manner,  annulled  his 
sentence  of  banishment,  and  re-enfranchised  him.  After  minister- 
ing to  the  little  community  at  Wells  for  four  years,  he  accepted 
the  invitation  of  the  church  at  Hampton  to  settle  over  them  as  the 
pastoral  colleague  of  the  Rev.  Timothy  Dalton,  their  religious 
teacher.  In  Hampton  he  continued,  to  the  entire  acceptance  of 
his  flock,  until  1(355  or  1G5G  when  he  made  a  voyage  to  England. 
There  he  was  received  with  high  favor  b}'  Oliver  Cromwell,  his 
fellow  collegian,  now  the  highest  personage  in  the  land  ;  nhd  also 
by  Sir  Henry  Vane,  a  friend  and  fellow  sufferer  in  the  Antinomian 
struggle  in  Massachusetts.  After  Cromwell's  death  Wheelwright 
returned  to  New  England,  in  company  with  several  other  minis- 
ters, in  the  summer  of  16(32.  He  accepted  the  invitation  of  the 
church  at  Salisbury,  Massachusetts,  to  become  their  spiritual 
guide,  and,  though  then  arrived  at  the  age  of  threescore  and  ten, 
enjoyed  among  them  the  longest  pastorate  of  his  checkered  life. 
He  had  his  trials  there,  indeed,  for  he  was  not  one  to  yield  his 
opinions  because  another  opposed  them,  but  on  the  whole  his  min- 
istrations were  useful  and  his  motives  and  independence  were 
respected.  It  was  a  pleasant  episode  in  his  later  life  that  he 
preached  a  sermon  in  1671-2  in  behalf  of  Harvard  College,  solic- 
iting contributions  for  the  rebuilding  of  Harvard  Hall  which  had 
been  destroyed  by  lire, — thus  showing  that  he  harbored  no  malice 
against  the  dignitaries  of  Massacliusetts  for  the  harsh  treat- 
ment  that  he  had  formerly  received  at  their  hands.  His  death  took 
place  at  Salisbury  November  15,  167'J. 

50.  Thomas  Wight,  of  whom  nothing  is  learned  prior  to  his 
appearance  in  Exeter,  had  six  acres  and  thirty  poles  allotted  hiin 
as  his  share  of  the  uplands  ;  and  was  a  subscriber  of  the  Combina- 
tion. In  the  five  subsequent  years  that  he  spent  in  the  town,  his 
name  appears  seldom  on  the  records.  He  had  a  house,  and 
perhaps  two,  as  his  "  old  house"  is  referred  to  ;  and  he  was  cen- 
sured and  fined  in  1642  by  the  town  court  for  "  contemptuous 
carriage  and  speeches  against  the  court  and  magistrates."  He 
lived  in  the  town  at  least  two  years  and  a  half,  afterwards,  and 
then  went  away,  we  know  not  whither.  Mr.  Savage  thinks  Thomas 
Wight  was  the  same  person  elsewhere  called  Thomas  AVright,  but 
he  gives  no  authority  for  the  belief.  The  name  is  uniformly 
written  Weight  in  the  town  records  ;  but  is  subscribed  Wight, 
apparently  in  his  own  hand,  to  the  Combination. 


40  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

51.  Balthazar  Willix,  whose  name  would  indicate  that  he  was 
of  foreign  origin,  was  undoubtedly  in  Elxeter  as  early  as  tlie 
l)eginuing  of  ir)40,  as  he  was  then  awarded  one  of  the  smaller 
shares  of  the  uplands.  He  was  not  a  signer  of  the  Combination. 
His  name  appears,  however,  repeatedly  in  the  records,  at  a  later 
date,  in  his  own  bold  and  handsome  chirography.  In  jNIay,  1643, 
he  was  one  of  the  petitioners  to  the  General  Court  pf  Massachu- 
setts to  receive  Exeter  under  their  government.  His  name  is  not 
found  in  the  records  after  1  (!.■)().  In  the  month  of  May  or  June, 
1648,  Willix's  wife  was  robbed  and  brutally  murdered  on  her  way 
from  Dover  to  Plxeter.  Whether  the  perpetrator  of  the  outrage 
was  ever  brought  to  justice  is  not  known.  "NVillix  did  not  remain 
in  Exeter  long  afterwards,  but  took  up  his  residence  in  Salisbury, 
where  he  was  taxed  in  165U,  and  died  March  23,  1651. 

52.  Thomas  Wilson  came  to  this  country  in  June,  1633,  with 
his  wife  and  three  sons  ;  Humphrey,  Samuel  and  Joshua.  He  also 
had  children  born  here:  Deborah  in  August,  1634,  and  L3'dia  in 
November,  163(5.  His  home  was  in  Koxbury,  and  he  had  the 
misfortune  to  lose  his  house  and  goods  by  fire.  Being  in  sympa- 
thy with  Wheelwright  he  came  with  him  to  p]xeter  to  reside,  but 
subsequently  made  peace  with  the  church  which  he  had  left.  He 
was  a  signer  of  the  Combination,  and  occupied  the  island  at  the 
falls  and  some  lands  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  river.  In  the  first 
division  of  lands  he  received  four  acres  and  twenty-eight  rods  of 
marsh.  He  built  the  first  grist-mill  in  the  town.  On  the  twentieth 
of  October,  1642,  on  the  resignation  of  Nicholas  Needham  as 
Ruler,  he  was  elected  his  successor.  He  died  in  the  summer  of 
1643,  leaving  a  will  in  which  he  made  provision  for  his  widow  and 
children.  The  former  was  married  the  next  year  to  John  Legat. 
A  difference  arose  about  the  estate  between  her  and  her  oldest 
son,  Humphre}^  which  was  by  the  General  Court  referred  to  the 
County  Court  at  Ipswich.  Humphrey  Wilson  continued  an  inhabi- 
tant of  the  town  through  life,  probably,  and  his  descendants, 
though  none  bearing  his  name,  are  still  living  in  Exeter. 

The  foregoing  are  the  names  of  all  the  men  who  are  known  to 
have  been  inhabitants  of  Exeter  in  the  first  two  years  of  its  exist- 
ence. William  Eurber  and  John  Uuderhill,  though  temporarily  in 
the  place  at  the  times  of  the  execution  of  the  Indian  deeds,  which 
they  respectively  witnessed,  were  residents  of  Dover,  and  never 
of  Exeter. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  41 

EARLY    ENACTMENTS. 

The  third  3^ear  opened  upon  Exeter,  in  the  spring  of  1640,  with 
a  population  of  from  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  two  hundred  souls, 
including  women  and  children,  living  under  a  practicable  and  regu- 
lar system  of  government.  The  municipal  regulations  adopted  by 
the  inhal)itants  from  time  to  time,  as  long  as  they  ruled  them- 
selves, were  generally  marked  by  equity  and  good  sense.  A  few 
examples  are  given  : 

It  was  enacted  that  any  inhabitant  might  sell  to  the  Indians 
such  merchandise  as  he  pleased,  except  weapons,  ammunition  and 
strong  waters.  The  charges  of  the  town  were  to  be  ratably  pro- 
portioned among  the  inhabitants,  owners  of  land,  and  cattle,  and 
privileges.  In  conformity  with  the  professions  of  the  Combina- 
tion, treason,  "  reviling  his  majesty  the  Lord's  anointed  "  and  the 
like,  were  made  punishable  capitally.  Judicious  regulations  were 
prescribed  in  regard  to  the  purchase  of  lots,  the  felling  of  timber, 
and  the  attendance  of  the  inhabitants  at  town  meetings.  The 
miller's  toll  was  limited  ;  all  creeks  were  declared  free  for  fishing ; 
fences  were  ordered  to  be  erected,  and  highways  of  three  rods  in 
width  to  be  made.  Rules  were  laid  down  to  prevent  injury  to 
growing  crops  by  swine.  The  control  of  the  lands  by  the  town 
was  jealously  preserved  ;  and  no  inhabitant  was  permitted  to  buy 
for  his  own  use  from  the  Indians  any  of  the  planting  ground 
reserved  for  their  cultivation  ;  but  must  tender  it  first  to  the  town. 

It  would  appear  that  even  in  this  early  stage  of  the  settlement, 
slander  was  not  wholly  unknown,  and  an  order  was  passed  that 
any  persons  spreading  abroad  any  accusation  which  could  not  be 
proved  by  the  mouth  of  two  or  three  witnesses,  should  be  liable  to 
the  court's  censure.  Thus  early  too  was  enacted  the  law  that  no 
foreigners  should  be  employed  to  work  in  the  town,  if  inhabitants 
would  do  the  work  as  cheaply  and  as  well.  Of  course  it  was  not 
natives  of  foreign  countries  that  were  here  referred  to,  but  any 
persons  not  citizens  of  Exeter.  This  disinclination  to  encourage 
"  foreigners  "  to  come  into  the  town,  was  exhibited  repeatedly  by 
similar  orders,  at  later  dates  ;  and,  indeed,  is  thought  by  some  not 
to  have  entirely  died  out  yet ! 

These  regulations  appear  to  have  been  scrupulously  carried  into 
effect,  without  distinction  of  persons. 

*  The  first  clerk  of  the  town  and  court  was  Edward  Rishworth. 
The  second  was  John  Legat,  who  had  been  a  resident  and  school- 


42  niSTORY  OF  EXETER. 

master  of  Hampton  in  1640,  and  afterwards  filled  the  same  impor- 
tant station  in  Exeter.  He  wrote  a  handsome  hand,  and  was  well 
informed  and  business-like,  and  for  several  years  took  a  somewhat 
prominent  part  in  the  affairs  of  the  town.  He  received  repeated 
grants  of  lands  and  privileges,  and  was  one  of  the  townsmen  from 
1647  to  1649.  It  was  probably  in  the  latter  year  that  he  removed 
back  to  Hampton.  There  he  was  living  in  1664.  His  name  is 
not  extinct  in  the  vicinity. 

By  the  spring  of  1641  a  "  band  of  soldiers  "  had  been  organized 
in  Exeter,  and  the  freemen  elected  Richard  Bulgar  lieutenant  and 
Thomas  Wardell  sergeant ;  and  their  choice  was  approved  by 
Ruler  Needham. 

On  the  twenty-sixth  of  October,  1642,  Nicholas  Needham  re- 
signed his  office  of  Ruler,  and  Thomas  Wilson,  being  chosen  in 
his  place,  gave  his  approbation  to  all  the  laws  and  orders  which 
had  been  made  during  Ruler  Needham's  administration. 

The  grain  crop  of  the  season  of  1642  was  for  some  reason  a 
very  scanty  one,  and  by  the  succeeding  spring  the  poorer  class  of 
inhabitants  began  to  suffer  from  scarcity  of  food.  The  majority 
of  the  town  made  no  scruple  in  applying  the  doctrine  of  "  eminent 
domain"  to  the  case.  On  May  6,  1643,  they  appointed  a  commit- 
tee of  discreet  and  judicious  citizens,  and  authorized  them  to 
search  the  houses,  and  take  therefrom  any  corn  not  needed  by  the 
owners,  and  dispose  of  the  same  to  such  poor  people  as  stood  most 
in  need  of  it,  for  such  pay  as  they  could  make  ;  the  owners,  how- 
ever, to  be  compensated  at  market  rates  ;  an  arbitrary  measure, 
but  one  entirely  justifiable  under  the  peculiar  circumstances. 

Meadow  or  marsh  lauds  were  considered  specially  desirable  by 
the  owners  of  cattle,  as  no  other  mowing  grouud  had  yet  been  res- 
cued from  the  forest.  Patches  of  this  natural  grass  land  Avere 
found  by  explorers  here  and  there,  on  the  margins  of  streams  ; 
and  it  was  ordered,  August  21,  1643,  that  an}^  inhabitant  who 
should  discover  any  piece  of  marsh  land  of  less  than  twenty  acres, 
should  be  at  liberty  to  enjoy  it  as  his  own  ;  if  above  twenty  acres, 
it  was  to  be  at  the  disposal  of  the  town,  except  that  the  finder  was 
to  be  entitled  to  a  double  proportion  of  it. 

At  a  town  court  held  September  5,  1643,  Christopher  Lawson 
was  put  under  recognizance  to  answer  to  the  charge  of  extortion 
"  at  the  next  Court  to  be  holden  for  Exeter  either  here  or  else- 
where." This  language  indicates  an  understanding  that  the  town 
government  was  about  to  be  merged  in  an  authority  of  a  wider 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  43 

sweep,  which  we  shall  see  was  soon  accomplished.  One  of  the 
last  acts  of  the  town  court  was  to  fill  up  the  measure  of  justice  to 
Thomas  Biggs,  who  was  found  guilty  of  sundry  petty  larcenies, 
by  adjudging  him  to  make  ample  restitution  to  the  sufferers,  and 
also  to  be  whipped  six  stripes.  It  is  satisfactory  to  know  that 
this  punishment  was  very  likely  the  making  of  the  young  culprit, 
for  he  became  a  useful  citizen,  and  was  repeatedly  elected  to  posts 
of  responsibility  in  the  town,  in  after  years. 

The  records  of  the  town,  during  the  period  of  its  self-govern- 
ment, contain  many  particulars  of  interest  that  could  not  well  be 
included  in  this  chapter ;  and  for  the  satisfaction  of  the  curious, 
it  has  been  thought  expedient  to  print  them  entire  in  the  original 
language  and  orthography,  in  the  appendix  (II). 


CHAPTER  II. 
EXETER  UNDER  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  GOVERNMENT. 

By  the  spring  of  1G43  nil  the  New  Hampshire  plantations,  except 
Exeter,  were  under  the  sway  of  Massachusetts.  Hampton  had 
orignally  been  settled  from  that  colony  ;  Dover  and  Portsmouth 
had  been  induced  to  submit  themselves  to  her  rule,  partly  by  her 
claim  that  they  fell  within  her  patent,  but  more,  perhaps,  by  the 
favorable  terms  which  she  held  out  to  tliem.  That  church-mem- 
bership was  a  prerequisite  to  the  privilege  of  voting  in  civil  affairs, 
was  a  cardinal  doctrine  in  Massachusetts.  This  was  now  surren- 
dered, and  the  citizeus  of  the  New  Hampshire  towns  were  to  be 
allowed  the  elective  franchise  without  reference  to  that  qualifica- 
tion ;  a  proof  of  the  price  Avhich  the  Bay  Puritans  were  ready  to 
pay,  to  purchase  an  extension  of  their  jurisdiction. 

Exeter  was  the  last  to  yield.  A  large  part  of  her  inhabitants 
felt  that  they  had  been  treated  with  harshness  and  injustice  by  the 
authorities  of  Massachusetts,  and  some  of  them  utterly  refused  to 
submit  again  to  her  dominion  but  quitted  the  place  to  avoid  it. 
A  petition,  however,  was  forwarded  in  May,  1643,  to  the  Massa- 
chusetts General  Court,  that  Exeter  might  be  received  within  tlieir 
jurisdiction.  It  was  subscribed  by  Thomas  Rashleigh,  Richard 
Bulgar,  William  Wenborne,  Thomas  Wardell,  Samuel  Walker, 
Christopher  Lawson,  John  Legat,  Henry  Rob}',  Thomas  Biggs, 
AVilliam  Cole,  Tliomas  Pettit,  Robert  Smith,  John  Cram,  Nathan- 
iel Boulter,  Robert  Seward,  Abraham  Drake  aud  AVllliam  JNIoore. 
Eleven  of  these  were  signers  of  the  Combination.  The  petition 
itself  has  been  destroyed,  and  we  can  only  infer  its  contents  from 
the  reception  it  met  with.  It  could  not  have  been  an  uncondi- 
tional surrender  to  Massachusetts,  but  must  have  stipulated  for 
some  terms  which  her  rulers  were  unwilliug  to  grant.  Tlie  Gen- 
eral Court  answered  curtl}',  that  "  as  Exeter  fell  within  the  Massa- 
chusetts  patent,  they  took  it  ill  that  the  petitioners  should  capit- 
ulate witli  them."     In  other  words  the  Exeter  people  must  accept 

such  conditions  as  Massachusetts  chose  to  impose. 

44 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  45 

Immediately  afterwards  a  second  petition  was  forwarded, 
couched  in  language  sufficiently  humble,  as  follows  : 

To  the  Right  Worshipful  the  Governor,  the  Deputie  Governor  and 
the  Magistrates,  with  the  assistance  and  deputyes  of  this  honored 
Courte  at  present  assembled  in  Boston. 

The  humble  petition  of  the  inhabitants  of  Exeter,  who  do 
humbly  request  that  this  honored  Court  would  be  pleased  to 
appoint  the  bounds  of  our  Towne  to  be  layed  out  to  us,  both 
towards  Hampton  &  also  downe  the  River  on  that  side  which  Capt. 
Wiggons  his  farm  is  on,  for  he  doth  Clame  all  the  laud  from  the 
towne  downwards,  on  the  one  side,  &  Hampton  on  the  other  side 
doth  clame  to  be  neere  us,  that  we  shall  not  be  able  to  subsist  to 
be  a  Towne  except  this  honored  Court  be  pleased  to  releave  us. 
And  we  suppose  that  Capt.  Wiggens  his  farme  and  a  good  way 
below  it,  may  well  be  laid  within  our  Township  if  this  honored 
Court  so  please. 

Also  we  do  humbly  crave  that  the  Court  would  be  pleased  to 
grant  that  we  may  still  peaceably  enjoy  thouse  small  quantitie  of 
meddows,  which  are  at  Lamperell  river  that  Dover  men  now  seeme 
to  lay  clame  to,  notwithstanding  they  know  we  long  since  purchased 
them  &  allso  quietly  possest  them  with  their  consent. 

Likewise  we  do  humbly  request  that  this  honored  Court  would 
be  pleased  to  establish  three  men  among  us  to  put  an  Ishew  to 
small  differences  amongst  us,  &  one  to  be  a  Clarke  of  the  writes, 
that  so  we  might  not  be  so  troblesom  to  the  Courts  for  every  small 
matter.  The  three  men  which  we  desire  the  ending  of  Controver- 
sies are  Anthony  Stanean,  Samuel  Greenffield  &  James  Wall  & 
we  do  desire  that  John  Legat  may  be  the  Clarke  of  the  writes. 
Thus  leaving  our  Petition  to  your  Judicious  Consideration  &  your- 
selves to  the  Lord,  we  rest  and  remaine  ever  ready  to  do  3'ou  our 
best  service. 

Samuel  Greenfield  *  Henry  Roby 

Anthony  Stanyan  Richard  Carter 

Thomas  AVij?ht  William  M[oore] 

Nathaniel  Boulter  James  Wall 

John  Tedd  *  Humphrey  Willsou 

Robert  Hethersay  Ralph  Hall 

John  Legat  JohnBursley* 

Abraham  Di-ake  Francis  Swain 

Thomas  Jones  *  John  Davis 

Nicholas  Swain  Balthazer  Willix 

Thomas  King  *  John  Smart 


4G  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Of  these  twenty-two  subscribers  only  four  had  set  then-  hands  to 
the  Combination,  and  not  one  of  them  was  in  any  wa}'  connected 
with  tlie  Antinomian  dissensions  of  1637. 

This  petition  bore  date  May  12  [1643],  and  apparently  was  pre- 
sented near  the  close  of  the  current  session  of  the  General  Court. 
The  printed  records  make  no  mention  of  it  then  ;  but  an  indorse- 
ment upon  the  petition  shows  that  both  branches  of  the  Legislature 
acceded  to  it. 

On  the  seventh  of  the  following  September  the  General  Court 
formally  received  Exeter  within  the  Massachusetts  government 
and  assigned  it  to  the  neAvly  formed  county  of  Norfolk.  But  it  is 
a  curious  fact  that  in  the  appointment  of  permanent  town  oflicers 
the  nominees  of  the^  accepted  petition  were  rejected,  and  signers 
of  the  rejected  petition  and  of  the  Combination  were  preferred. 
William  Wenborne  was  appointed  clerk  of  the  writs,  and  William 
Wenborne,  Robert  Smith  and  Thomas  Wardell  were  made  masi'is- 
trates  to  decide  small  causes.  Massachusetts  knew  how  to  con- 
ciliate as  well  as  to  coerce. 


THE    CONDITIONS    OF    ANNEXATION. 

The  terms  on  which  Exeter  was  admitted  were  substantially 
those  accorded  to  the  other  New  Hampshire  towns  :  namel}',  "  the 
same  order,  and  way  of  administration  of  justice  and  way  of  keep- 
ing courts,  as  is  established  at  Ipswich  and  Salem  ;"  exemption 
from  "  all  public  charges  other  thau  those  that  .shall  arise  for  or 
from  amoug  [the  people]  themselves,  or  from  any  occasion  or 
course  that  may  be  taken  to  procure  their  own  proper  good  or 
benefit;"  and  the  enjoyment  of  "  all  such  lawful  liberties  of  fish- 
ing, planting,  felling  timber  as  formerly  they  have  enjoyed  in  the 
said  [Pascataqua]  river."  The  town  was  to  send  no  delegate  to 
the  General  Court,  but  this  was  no  hardship,  as  the  inhabitants 
could  ill  afford  the  expense  which  would  thereby  fall  upon  them, 
and  their  apparent  need  of  a  representative  in  the  Legislature  was 
small. 

At  first  it  was  ordered  that  PLxeter  causes  at  lavr  should  be  tried 
at  Ipswich  ;  afterwards  at  the  courts  held  in  one  of  three  or  four 
towns  (not  including  Exeter)  in  the  county  of  Norfolk.  There 
ample  opportunities  were  afforded  to  the  inhabitants  for  settling 
all  litigated  questions  above  the  jurisdiction  of  the  town  magis- 
trates ;  and  towns  were  compelled  b}'  presentments  of  the  grand 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  47 

jury  to  keep  their  meeting-houses,  watch-houses,  stocks,  roads  and 
bridges  in  good  and  serviceable  order  ;  while  the  General  Court 
exercised  a  watchful  and  paternal  care  over  their  ecclesiastical  and 
municipal  concerns. 

The  government  of  Exeter  was  of  course  modified,  to  conform 
to  the  usages  of  Massachusetts.  Three  townsmen  were  chosen, 
Richard  Bulgar,  Samuel  Greenfield  and  Christopher  Lawson, 
whose  duties  approximated  those  of  selectmen  of  the  present  day. 
By  a  vote  of  the  town,  April  8,  1644,  they  were  empowered  to 
' '  make  town  rates  ;  to  distrain  for  all  town  debts  ;  to  pay  the 
town's  debts  out  of  the  town's  treasury,  or  to  make  rates  for  it ; 
to  look  to  the  execution  of  all  town  orders  ;  to  grant  and  lay  out 
lots,  provided  they  be  not  above  twenty  acres  ;  to  receive  into  the 
town  as  inhabitants,  or  to  keep  out,  such  as  they  in  their  wisdom 
think  meet." 

THE    FISHERY. 

The  fishery  furnished  a  very  important  article  of  subsistence  to 
the  early  inhabitants  ;  indeed,  for  the  first  few  seasons,  before  the 
land  had  been  brought  fairly  under  cultivation,  it  must  have  been 
well  nigh  indispensable.  The  river,  above  and  below  the  falls, 
abounded  in  fish  of  various  kinds,  and  the  salmon,  we  learn  from 
tradition,  were  especially  plentiful.  Still  we  can  hardly  give 
credence  to  the  often  repeated  tale  that  the  ancient  indentures  of 
apprenticeship  in  Exeter  used  to  contain  a  proviso  that  the 
apprentices  should  uot  be  compelled  to  eat  salmon  more  than  twice 
a  week  !  No  instrument  containing  such  a  clause  has  ever  been 
found  ;  and  the  story  has  been  told  of  half  a  score  of  towns  in 
England,  and  was,  undoubtedly,  an  importation  from  that  country. 

The  salmon,  for  the  excellent  reason  that  they  can  no  longer 
pass  the  dams  to  breed  their  young  in  tlie  fresh  water  above,  have 
long  deserted  the  Squamscot ;  but  the  alewives  still  frequent  the 
river,  though  probably  not  in  such  profusion  as  formerly.  At  first 
the  latter  were  chiefly  used  as  manure  for  the  cultivated  lands  ; 
and  thus  rendered  necessary  the  stringent  regulations  that  were 
adopted  to  prevent  swine  and  dogs  from  feeding  upon  them. 

As  early  as  the  second  of  November,  1640,  it  was  ordered  by 
the  town  that  "all  creeks  are  free;  only  he  that  makes  a  weir 
therein  is  to  have  in  the  first  place  the  benefit  of  it  in  fishing  time  ; 
and  so  others  may  set  a  weir  either  above  or  below,  and  enjoy  the 
same  libertv." 


48  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Ou  the  twenty-eighth  of  June,  1G44,  the  town  granted  to  Christo- 
pher Lawson  and  his  heirs  ''  the  right  to  set  a  weir  in  the  river  of 
Exeter  "  upon  certain  conditions,  one  of  which  w\as  that  the  inhabi- 
tants should  be  supplied  with  alewives  lo  fish  their  land,  at  three 
shillings  a  thousand,  in  such  pay  as  the  town  afforded  ;  and  another 
that  he  should  make  flood  gates  "  so  that  barks,  boats  and  canoes 
may  come  to  the  town."  The  inhabitants  reserved  to  themselves 
liberty  to  fish  in  the  falls  and  elsewhere  in  the  river,  but  not  to  set 
any  other  weir  so  as  to  forestall  Lawson's.  This  monopoly, 
though  formidable  in  sound,  being  extended  to  Lawson's  "  heirs 
forever,"  enjoyed  but  a  brief  span  of  life  ;  for  the  very  next  year, 
April  26,  1645,  the  town  resumed  the  control  of  tlie  fisliery  by 
passing  the  following  vote  : 

All  the  creeks  for  fishing  this  year  are  divided  into  three  divi- 
sions by  lot,  eleven  or  twelve  persons  to  a  division  according  as 
the  lots  lie,  as  follow  :  the  first  division  of  lots,  from  the  mill 
downward,  are  to  have  Rawbone's  creek  and  the  creek  ai)ove  it; 
the  second  division  from  the  mill  downward,  are  to  have  all  the 
creeks  on  the  mill  side  of  the  river ;  and  tlie  tliird  division  are  to 
have  all  the  creeks  on  the  town  side  of  the  river,  except  Mr. 
Needliam's  creek  and  the  great  cove  creek,  which  two  creelvs  lie 
common. 

This  vote  casts  a  little  light  upon  tlie  topography  of  the  town  at 
that  early  date.  The  mill  (there  was  then  but  one)  was  Wilson's, 
on  the  eastern  side  of  the  island  at  the  falls.  The  "mill  side" 
of  the  river  was  the  opposite  from  the  "  town  side"  which  was, 
of  course,  the  western.  This  indicates  that,  from  the  very  begin- 
ning, the  main  settlement  was  on  the  western  side  of  the  river ; 
though  tradition  asserts  that  two  or  three  settlers  planted  their 
houses  on  the  opposite  bank,  between  what  is  now  styled  Powder- 
house  point  and  Wheelwright's  creek  ;  and  depressions  in  the  soil, 
-which  may  have  been  cellars,  go  to  confirm  the  tale. 

The  people  of  Exeter  were  not  long  in  discovering  that  the 
Massachusetts  control  was  to  be  no  sinecure,  but  was  to  extend 
sometimes  to  their  pettiest  concerns.  When,  in  1644,  they  chose 
Samuel  Greenfield  to  "keep  a  sulHcient  ordinary,  and  draw  wine 
and  strong  w^aters,  and  trade  with  the  Indians,"  the  General  Court 
"  denied  him  to  draw  wine  until  they  had  a  more  full  and  satisfac- 
tory information  of  him."  And  wdien  the  town  "took  the  minds 
of  the  trained  bands  for  the  re-establishing  Richard  Bullgar  in 
his  former  office  of  lieutenant,"  the  General  Court  "thought  it  not 
meet  that  he  should  be  their  lieutenant  until  further  information 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  49 

be  given  to  this  Court  of  said  Bullgar  ;,  in  the  meantime  he  to  exer- 
cise the  trainband  as  their  sergeant." 

The  first  three  or  four  years  after  Exeter  submitted  to  Massa- 
chusetts appear  to  have  formed  a  critical  period  in  the  history  of 
the  town.  The  departure  of  Wheelwright  and  other  leading  inhabi- 
tants was  a  heavy  draft  upon  the  little  colony,  not  to  be  counter- 
balanced by  the  ordinary  recruits  of  a  frontier  settlement.  Relig- 
ious differences  had  crept  in  among  the  inhabitants  to  such  an 
extent  that  the  aid  of  the  General  Court  was  evoked  to  compose 
them.  A  committee  of  ministers  was  accordingly  appointed  to 
examine  the  ground  of  the  complaints,  and  to  do  their  best  to 
bring  about  harmony.  At  the  same  time  the  town  prayed  to  be 
excused  from  the  payment  of  taxes  —  "  rate  and  head  money," — 
no  doubt  upon  the  plea  of  their  poverty  and  unsettled  condition. 
The  General  Court,  willing  as  they  were  to  afford  relief  in  spirit- 
ual matters,  were  not  inclined,  however,  to  remit  their  pecuniary 
obligations,  l)ut  "  conceived  meet  that  they  forthwith  send  in  their 
rates  to  the  Treasurer." 

Two  events  concurred,  however,  within  the  next  three  years,  to 
give  renewed  strength  to  the  town,  and  tide  it  over  the  threatening 
period,  to  stability  and  prosperity.  The  first  was  the  settlement 
in  Exeter  of  Edward  Gilmau  in  1647,  and  his  relatives  shortly 
afterwards,  men  of  property  and  energy,  who  setup  saw-mills  and 
gave  an  impulse  to  the  business  of  the  place.  The  second  was  the 
engagement  in  1G.')0  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Dudley  as  the  minister 
of  the  town,  who  united  the  previously  discordant  religious 
elements,  and  became  in  every  respect  one  of  the  most  useful 
citizens. 

TIIK    CAIIK    OF    THE    CATTLE. 

On  the  first  of  May,  1649,  the  selectmen,  in  behalf  of  the  town, 
entered  into  a  written  agreement  with  Gowen  Wilson  to  drive,  and 
take  the  oversight  of  the  cows  and  other  cattle  of  the  inhabitants, 
for  the  season.  As  the  transaction  illustrates  the  customs  of  the 
times,  the  instrument  is  here  given  in  full : 

It  is  covenanted  and  agreed  upon  between  Gowen  Wilson  and 
the  town  of  P^xeter  that  the  said  Gowen  is  to  keep  all  the  neat 
herd  of  the  town  of  Exeter  from  one-year-old  and  upward  (work- 
ing cattle  excepted)  from  the  day  of  the  date  hereof  until  three 
weeks  after  Michaelmas,  to  go  every  morning  through  the  town  at 

4 


50  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

the  usual  time  that  cow-herds  go  forth,  and  so  to  have  the  cattle 
turned  into  the  town  street  and  the  said  Goweu  to  drive  them  into 
the  woods,  and  all  the  day  to  keep  tliem  in  such  convenient  places 
as  may  be  best  for  their  feeding,  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  and  at 
night  to  bring  them  home  again,  at  the  like  usual  time  of  herds 
coming  home  ;  iu  like  manner  to  bring  them  through  the  street 
from  the  first  house  to  the  last  who  have  cattle  in  that  street,  and 
to  seek  up  or  cause  to  be  sought  any  that  shall  be  lost  from  before 
him,  and  in  like  manner  to  keep  them  every  third  Sabbath  day. 

And  iu  consideration  hereof  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  who 
have  cattle  are  to  pay  or  cause  to  be  paid  uuto  the  said  Goweu 
Wilson  the  sum  of  eleven  pound,  to  be  paid  by  every  man's  equal 
proportion  according  to  the  number  of  their  cattle  in  manner  as 
folio wetli,  viz.  :  at  the  first  entry  to  have  a  peck  of  corn  a  head 
for  all  and  every  the  milch  cows,  and  a  pound  of  butter  a  cow, 
suddenly,  after  his  eutry  upon  the  said  work,  as  he  shall  have 
occasiou  to  use  it.  And  the  rest  of  the  aforesaid  (11  1.)  is  half 
of  it  to  be  paid  in  good  English  commodities  at  price  current, 
about  the  beginning  of  August  uext,  and  the  other  half  of  the  pay 
to  be  paid  in  corn  at  harvest  at  3  ^  a  bushel. 

AYituess  to  this  agreement  the  hands  of  us, 

GowEN  "Wilson, 
John  Leoat, 
James  Wall, 
Henry  IIoby. 

This  writing  discloses  to  us  some  facts  of  interest  about  the 
condition  of  the  settlement  and  its  people  at  that  period.  The 
cattle  were  compelled  to  gather  their  subsistence  "  in  the  woods," 
because  so  little  of  the  surrounding  country  was  as  yet  cleared 
from  the  forest  growth.  A  cow-herd  was  necessary  to  keep 
them  from  straying  ;  therefore  it  is  clear  that  there  was  an  absence 
of  enclosures.  "  The  town  street"  implies  that  as  yet  there  was 
but  a  single  thoroughfare,  doubtless  along  the  line  of  the  present 
AVater  street.  The  fact  that  the  herd  was  to  be  driven  to  pasture 
only  "  every  third  Sabbath,"  shows  the  respect  entertained  by  the 
people  for  the  Lord's  da3^  And  the  mode  in  which  compensation 
was  to  be  made,  in  corn,  butter  and  English  commodities,  without 
a  particle  of  cash,  reveals  the  extreme  scarcity  of  money  among 
the  people.      Indeed,   for   long  years    afterwards,  much  of   the 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  51 

business  of  the  place  was  carried  on  ])y  ])arter,  or  "  country 
pay,"  as  it  was  termed,  and  would  have  been  practicable  in  no 
other  method. 

Up  to  the  year  1G50  the  General  Court  had  at  intervals  made 
appointments  of  local  magistrates  to  end  small  causes  in  the  town. 
In  1645  they  were  Anthony  Stanyan,  Robert  Smith  and  John 
Legat ;  in  1(U6  Anthony  Stanyan,  Samuel  Crreenfield  and  James 
Wall.  But  when  in  May,  1G50,  the  inhabitants  made  application 
for  another  similar  appointment,  it  was  refused  by  the  General 
Court  upon  the  ground  that  there  was  no  need  of  such  commis- 
sioners, as  Captain  Thomas  Wiggiu,  an  Associate,  lived  so  near. 
But  the  town  were  allowed  the  privilege  of  choosing  a  cqnstable, 
provided  the  person  of  their  choice  should  be  approved  by  the 
county  court  "  as  fit  for  the  place." 

The  fathers  of  Exeter  early  learned  the  need  of  a  system  of 
supervision  of  the  conduct  of  their  public  servants.  As  early  as 
August  2G,  1650,  a  vote  was  passed  that  one  of  the  duties  of  the 
townsmen  should  be  to  "call  to  account"  their  predecessors  in 
office.  And  this,  or  some  equivalent  mode  of  auditing  the 
accounts  of  the  receiving  and  disbursing  officers  of  the  town,  was 
maintained  with  great  regularity  afterwards,  from  that  time  to  the 
present. 

THE    STAPLE    COMMODITY. 

Tlie  manufacture  of  lumber  was,  for  more  than  a  century,  the 
chief  source  of  revenue  to  the  inhabitants.  There  was  everywhere 
an  al)nudance  of  the  fittest  oaks  and  pines  that  had  survived  their 
weaker  brethren,  and  were  truly  monarchs  of  the  forest.  Tiie 
land  was  owned  in  common,  and  a  long  period  elapsed  before 
much  of  it  was  divided.  The  lumber,  therefore,  cost  the  inliabi- 
tants  nothing  but  the  necessary  labor  in  getting  it  out.  Naturally, 
some  secured  much  more  than  others  ;  there  was  a  great  deal  of 
waste  ;  and  non-residents  did  not  hesitate  to  help  thsmselves  from 
the  bounteous  supply.  To  remedy  these  troubles,  and  to  insure 
something  like  equality  or  equity  among  the  inhabitants  in  the 
enjoyment  of  the  products  of  their  common  domain,  as  well  as  to 
prevent  strangers  from  encroaching  thereon,  the  town  from  time 
to  time  adopted  regulations  ;  a  brief  summary  of  which  will  be 
presented. 

On  the  first  of  October,  1640,  the  felling  of  timber  within  half 
a  mile  of  the  town,  except  on   one's  own    particular  lot,  or  for 


52  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

buildiug  or  fencing,  was  prohibited  under  a  penalty  of  five  shillings 
per  tree  ;  and  it  was  provided  that  none  but  inhabitants  or  town 
dwellers  should  have  liberty  to  fell  or  saw  any  pine,  oak  or  other 
timber  under  a  like  penalty  to  the  offender. 

On  the  fourteenth  of  January,  1642,  "  upon  the  great  complaint 
of  the  great  destruction  and  spoil  of  timber  about  the  tow^n,"  it 
was  ordered  that  the  inhabitants  who  had  felled  timber  for  pipe 
staves  or  bolts,  should  have  a  year's  time  to  work  it  up,  except 
that  those  who  had  timber  Ij'ing  for  a  year  unwrought,  should  have 
but  six  months  more  ;  after  which  if  still  unwrought,  it  should  be 
forfeited. 

On  th^  sixteenth  of  February,  1647,  it  was  required  that  every 
inhabitant  should  cease  felling  timber  for  the  present  till  further 
order.  Such  as  had  timber  felled  had  liberty  to  work  up  so  much 
of  it  as  would  complete  their  i)roportions  formerly  granted  or 
legally  purchased ;  and  what  they  had  felled  more  than  their 
shares,  they  were  to  leave  to  the  town's  use.  Every  inhabitant 
should  give  an  account  to  the  townsmen  what  shares  he  had  pur- 
chased and  what  timber  he  had  already  used.  The}'  who  had  not 
made  up  their  proportional  shares  might  fell  timber  aud  woi'k  it 
up,  to  the  amount  of  their  said  shares.  A  penalty  of  five  shillings 
was  imposed  "  for  every  tree  that  any  man  shall  transgress  in." 
John  Legat  and  Thomas  Pettit  were  appointed  cullers  of  pipe 
staves  for  the  town,  aud  sworn  according  to  the  order  of  the 
court. 

On  the  twenty-second  of  April,  1650,  it  was  ordered  "  by  the 
freemen  and  some  others,  chosen  for  the  ordering  of  the  sole 
affairs  of  the  town,"  that  every  inhabitant  should  pay  for  every 
thousand  of  pipe  staves  made  by  him,  two  shillings,  for  the  mainte- 
nance of  the  ministry  ;  for  every  thousand  of  hogshead  staves  one 
shilling  and  six  pence  ;  aud  for  every  thousand  of  bolts,  sold 
before  made  into  staves,  four  shillings. 

On  the  twenty-sixth  of  August,  1650,  it  was  voted  by  the  town 
that  none  but  settled  inhabitants  should  have  the  privilege  upon 
the  Common  to  fell  or  use  timber,  and  not  future  comers  into  town 
until  they  should  be  accepted  for  inhabitants ;  all  others  were 
prohibited.  Onlj'  one  person  to  each  house  lot  was  to  enjoy  the 
privilege,  and  he  must  build  a  good,  habitable  house  thereon  withiu 
six  months. 

On  the  first  day  of  Ma}^  1657,  it  was  voted  that  "for  the  preser- 
vation of  pipe-stave  timber,  and  that  there  might  be  some  proi)or- 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  53 

tiou  [fixed],  that  some  might  not  have  great  [share]  of  thnber  and 
some  none,"  it  was  ordered  that  from  that  time  forward  there 
should  not  be  above  one  person  in  a  family  at  one  time  employed 
in  making  of  pipe  staves,  hogshead  staves  or  bolts,  or  in  any  other 
work  concerning  white  oak  timber,  except  it  be  for  saw-mills  or 
building  of  houses  or  fencing  stuff,  on  pain  of  forfeiture  of  ten 
shillings  for  each  transgression,  one-half  to  him  who  should  give 
notice,  and  the  other  half  to  the  use  of  the  town.  This  order 
applied  to  work  upon  the  Common,  and  on  all  ground  not  laid  out. 

It  was  voted  June  2<S,  165-4,  that  the  order  theretofore  made, 
debarring  strangers  from  coming  into  town  to  fell  timber  and  make 
staves,  should  be  still  in  force  ;  and  that  for  time  to  come  no  man 
living  in  another  town,  should,  under  any  pretence  whatsoever » 
fell  timber  or  make  staves  or  bolts  or  any  timber  work,  unless  he 
became  a  settled  inhabitant,  approved  of  by  the  town,  and  resident 
three  months  in  the  town  before  he  should  make  any  improvement 
of  timber. 

On  the  first  day  of  December,  1664,  "the  town  ha\ing  taken 
into  consideration  the  worth  of  masts,  and  that  every  year  they 
may  be  still  of  greater  consequence,  and  that  his  majesty  for  his 
own  shipping  may  cause  some  to  be  transported  from  hence ;  for 
the  preservation  of  such  timber  as  may  make  masts,  "  ordered  that 
.Tohn  Folsom  be  authorized  to  mark  such  trees  as  he  thought  fit  for 
masts  ;  to  impose  a  penalty  of  twenty  shillings  upon  any  one 
felling  a  tree  so  marked  ;  and  to  sell  such  trees  for  the  benefit  of 
the  town,  at  the  following  prices  :  "  for  those  of  thirty  inches 
[diameter]  and  upwards,  thirty  shillings  each  ;  between  thirty  and 
twenty-four  inches,  twenty  shillings ;  between  twenty-four  and 
twent}^  inches,  ten  shillings." 

At  a  town  meeting  jNIarch  3,  1673-4,  it  was  ordered  that  thence- 
forth every  single  person  who  was  legally  admitted  into  the  town 
should  have  liberty  to  make  one  thousand  white  oak  pipe  staves 
within  one  year,  or  the  value  of  them  in  hogshead  or  barrel  staves, 
red  or  white,  and  no  more  ;  and  every  family  of  less  than  four, 
servants  excepted,  three  thousand  ;  provided,  that  neither  single 
persons  nor  families  should  sell  their  privilege  to  any  other,  but 
might  hire  men  to  work  out  their  proper  proportions. 

Samuel  Leavitt  and  John  Wedgewood  were  empowered  to 
"  seize  upon  "  any  transgressor  of  the  order,  and  to  have  for  theii* 
pains,  one-half  the  overplus  of  his  proper  share ;  the  other  half  to 
go  to  the  town. 


54  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

On  the  twentieth  of  April,  1652,  the  town  agreed  to  pa}'^  to  the 
Rev.  Saninel  Dudley  twenty  shillings  for  the  use  of  his  two  bulls. 
Mr.  Dudley,  in  addition  to  his  qualifications  as  a  religious  teacher, 
was  a  notable  man  of  affairs.  He  acquired  numerous  tracts  of 
land,  was  interested  in  mills  and  in  agriculture,  was  employed  to 
keep  the  town  books,  was  the  general  conveyancer  and  attorney 
of  the  place,  and  now  seems  to  have  added  to  his  other  cares  the 
desire  to  improve  the  breed  of  the  cattle  of  the  town. 

The  early  records  of  Exeter  are  made  up  pretty  largely  of  the 
elections  of  oMicers  and  of  grants  of  land,  but  an  occasional  entry 
is  met  with  which  apparently  must  have  had  in  its  time  a  special 
significance.  Such  a  one  is  a  vote  passed  November  9,  1652,  that 
the  town  book  should  be  kept  in  Thomas  King's  house,  and  should 
not  go  therefrom  unless  there  should  be  special  occasion,  and  that 
by  consent  of  the  major  part  of  the  town  ;  and  that  any  person 
warned  to  be  at  a  town  meeting  who  should  not  be  there  at  half 
an  hour  after  the  time  appointed,  should  pay  for  the  use  of  the 
town  two  shillings  ;  and  John  Robinson  was  appointed  to  "  gather 
up  "  any  fines  incurred  for  violation  of  this  order.  Curiosity  is 
naturally  excited  to  learn  the  occasion  of  such  action.  Had  any 
unscrupulous  hand  attempted  to  tamper  with  the  records?  Had 
some  obnoxious  vote  been  prematurely  sprung  upon  a  town  meet- 
ing? We  ask  these  questions  in  vain.  Interesting  as  the  infor- 
mation might  be,  no  clue  to  it  has  reached  to  our  time. 

In  the  lumber  business  many  transient  persons  were  employed. 
If  disabled  by  sickness  or  accident,  there  was  danger  that  the 
town  would  be  made  liable  for  their  support.  To  guard  against 
pauperism  from  this  source,  the  following  vote  was  passed  April 
o,  1665  : 

Ordered  that  what  person  soever  shall  hire  any  servant  for  more 
or  less  time,  if  it  happen  that  he  that  is  hired  shall  be  lamed  or 
any  ways  unserviceal)le  made  in  work  during  that  time  [he]  shall 
be  kept  by  the  charge  of  him  that  hires  him,  if  he  be  not  able  to 
keep  himself,  that  so  the  town  may  be  freed  from  such  charges. 

This  vote  was  supplemented  by  a  rule  promulgated  by  the  select- 
men, August  30,  1671,  as  follows  : 

Ordered  that  no  man  shall  receive  any  person  or  persons  into 
town  without  the  consent  of  the  selectmen,  or  security  to  free  the 
town  from  any  cliarge  that  may  ensue  thereby,  upon  twenty 
shillings    a   mouth  forfeiture ;  and   that   uo    man    shall   come    to 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  55 

inhabit,  by  purchase  or   otherwise,  without  the   consent   of   the 
selectmen,  upon  the  same  penalty. 

PROJECT   FOR   A   CHANGE    OP    GOVERNMEXT. 

For  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  after  the  death  of  John  IMason, 
the  patentee  of  New  Hampshire,  in  1635,  little  had  occurred  to 
remind  the  inhabitants  that  his  representatives  still  claimed  the 
title  to  the  soil.  They  lived  in  England,  and  Robert  Tufton 
jMasou,  to  whom  his  grandfather's  American  estates  descended, 
did  not  become  of  age  till  1650.  He  was  attached  to  the  estab- 
lished church  and  the  royal  government ;  therefore  it  would  have 
been  idle  for  him,  during  the  protectorate  of  Cromwell,  to  expect 
any  aid  from  the  ruling  powers  in  regaining  the  lands  of  which  he 
alleged  that  Massachusetts  had  dispossessed  him.  But  upon  the 
restoration  of  Charles  II.  to  the  English  throne,  in  1660,  he  peti- 
tioned his  majesty  for  the  restoration  of  the  lands.  The  king's 
attorney  general,  to  whom  the  subject  was  referred,  reported  that 
Mason  had  a  good  and  legal  title  to  the  province  of  New  Hamp- 
shire. Though  no  immediate  action  resulted  therefrom,  yet  we 
shall  see  that  this  movement  of  Mason  was  destined  ere  long  to 
produce  momentous  consequences. 

Until  1661,  the  king  did  nothing  ;  but  on  April  25,  of  that  year, 
in  consequence  of  other  complaints  and  petitions,  respecting 
matters  of  dispute  in  New  England,  he  commissioned  Colonel 
Richard  Nicholls,  Sir  Robert  Carr,  George  Cartwright  and  Samuel 
Maverick  to  visit  the  several  colonies  of  New  England  ;  to  deter- 
mine all  complaints  ;  to  provide  for  the  peace  and  security  of  the 
country  according  to  their  discretion  and  to  such  instructions  as 
they  should  receive  from  the  king ;  and  to  report  to  him  their 
doings. 

This  commission  was  exceedingly  obnoxious  to  the  rulers  of 
Massachusetts,  who  were  conscious  that  it  was  especially  aimed  at 
themselves  and  their  conduct,  and  who  claimed  that  it  was  an 
interference  with  rights  vested  in  the  colonists  by  their  charter. 
The  commissioners,  however,  pursuant  to  their  instructions,  visited 
the  several  colonies  of  New  England,  and  their  inquiries  caused 
little  friction,  except  in  Massachusetts  and  her  dependencies. 
They  determined  that  the  assumption  of  that  colony  to  include 
within  her  charter  limits  and  jurisdiction  the  New  Hampshire 
settlements,  was  an  act  of  usurpation  ;  and  gave  the  people  of  those 
settlements  to  understaiud  that  they  would  release  them  from  the 
rule  of  Massachusetts,  if  that  were  their  desire. 


56  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Accordingly  a  petition  was  drawn,  addressed  to  the  King  of 
England,  purporting  to  represent  the  wishes  of  the  towns  of  Ports- 
mouth, Dover,  Exeter  and  Hampton,  expressing  their  great  joy 
that  his  majesty  had  sent  over  the  Commissioners,  and  sorrow  at 
their  ill  treatment  by  the  Bay  government ;  and  praj'ing  that  the 
king  would  take  the  petitioners  (towns)  into  his  immediate  pro- 
tection, that  thej'  might  be  governed  by  the  known  laws  of  Eng- 
land ;  and  that  they  might  enjoy  the  sacraments  they  had  been  so 
long  deprived  of.  This  petition,  so  far  as  known,  contained  but 
nine  signatures,  two  of  them  of  Exeter  men,  Edward  Hilton  and 
John  Folsom.  The  former  was  a  moderate  church  of  England 
man,  the  latter,  who  apparently  was  concerned  in  circulating  the 
paper,  was  of  a  high  and  somewhat  turbulent  temper.  There  is 
no  doubt  that  there  was  a  party  in  New  Hampshire  disaffected  to 
the  government  of  Massachusetts,  and  had  there  been  a  reasonable 
probability  that  they  would  have  bettered  themselves  by  a  demon- 
stration against  it,  a  considerable  number  of  names  might  have 
been  obtained  for  that  end.  But  the  reflecting  part  of  them  had 
little  confidence  in  the  present  movement,  and  prudently  kept  clear 
of  it. 

The  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  in  their  turn  appointed  a 
committee  to  inquire  into  the  disposition  of  the  New  Hampshire 
towns  towards  their  government.  Respecting  that  of  Exeter  they 
interrogated  the  Rev.  Samuel  Dudley,  who  replied  as  follows  : 

Concerning  the  question  that  is  in  hand,  whether  the  town  of 
Exeter  hath  subscribed  to  that  petition  to  his  majesty  for  the 
taking  of  Portsmouth,  Dover,  Hampton  and  f^xeter  under  his 
immediate  government,  I  do  affirm  to  my  best  apprehension,  that 
the  town  of  Exeter  hath  no  hand  in  that  petition  directly  or 
indirectly. 

It  is  sufficient  for  our  purpose  to  know  that  the  action  of  the 
royal  commissioners  led  to  no  change  of  government,  but  rather 
to  a  demonstration  in  favor  of  Massachusetts.  The  several  New 
Hampshire  towns  united  in  a  general  collection  to  aid  in  building 
a  new  hall  for  Harvard  College,  to  replace  that  which  had  been 
recently  destroyed  by  fire.  For  this  laudable  purpose  the  town  of 
Exeter  contributed  ten  pounds. 

In  connection  with  this  subject  it  is  worthy  of  mention  that 
Samuel  Maverick,  one  of  the  king's  commissioners,  had  about  the 
year  1660,  made  a  brief  report  to  his  majesty,  Charles  II.,  respect- 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  57 

ing  the  several  settlements  in  tlie  New  England  colonies,  which  he 
was,  by  his  early  and  long  residence  in  this  country,  well  qualified 
to  do.  This  paper,  after  lying  unknown  to  historians  for  more 
than  two  hundred  years,  has  recently  come  to  light.  Every  scrap 
of  information  of  that  early  date,  is  of  interest.  Maverick's  notice 
of  Exeter,  therefore,  meagre  though  it  is,  is  entitled  to  a  place 
here  : 

Exeter,  Above  this  (the  saw-mill  on  Lamperell  creek),  at  the 
fall  of  the  river  Pascataqua,  is  the  town  of  Iilxeter,  where  are  more 
saw-mills  ;  down  the  south  side  of  this  river  are  farms  and  other 
straggling  families. 

Taxation  was  probably  no  more  agreeable  to  property  holders 
in  former  times  than  it  is  at  present.  In  February,  1672,  the 
selectmen  gave  notice  to  the  inhabitants  to  bring  in  a  list  of  their 
estates,  both  of  outlands  and  all  else,  to  one  of  the  selectmen, 
together  with  an  account  of  all  debts  due  them  from  the  town, 
on  or  before  the  next  sixth  day  of  March  ;  under  the  penalty  of 
forfeiting  what  was  due  them  from  the  town,  upon  their  neglect  to 
bring  in  an  account  thereof,  and  of  the  payment  of  two  shillings 
by  every  one  Avho  should  not  bring  in  a  list  of  his  estate  to  make 
a  true  rate  by.  We  can  imagine  that  this  rule  would  cause  the 
exhibition  of  all  claims  against  the  town  :  but  whether  it  would 
bring  to  light  all  taxable  property,  might  depend  much  on  the 
amount  which  the  rate  payer  would  be  liable  to  be  assessed. 

The  year  1(575  was  made  men)orable  by  the  fierce  outbreak  of 
Indian  hostilities  known  as  King  Philip's  War.  The  loss  of  life 
with  which  Exeter  was  visited,  is  related  in  detail  in  another 
chapter.  To  defray  the  growing  charges  of  the  Indian  war  the 
General  Court  of  Massachusetts  on  the  thirteenth  of  October 
levied  upon  the  New  Hampshire  towns  seven  single  country  rates. 
The  proportion  of  Exeter  was  eight  pounds,  eight  shillings  for  a 
single  rate,  and  the  entire  tax  required  of  the  town  was  twent3'-five 
pounds,  four  shillings  in  November,  1675,  and  thirty-three  pounds, 
twelve  shillings  in  March,  1676.  Happily,  the  war  was  of  brief 
duration. 

On  the  eleventh  of  March,  1679,  Edward  Smith,  Edward 
Oilman  and  Peter  Folsom  were  appointed  by  the  town  a  committee 
to  ascertain  the  town  debts  and  the  legality  of  the  same.  It  thus 
appears  that  we  have  an  early  precedent  for  incurring  a  town  debt ; 
and  the  report  of  the  committee  having  fortunately  been  preserved. 


58  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

is  given  here,  as  an  example  of  the  formal  manner  in  which 
agents  of  the  town  performed  their  functions  two  hundred  years 
ago. 

Theis  may  certifie  all  whome  it  may  concerne  that  whereas  wee 
underwritten,  at  a  Towne  meeting  y'^  11"'  of  March  1678  [9]  were 
appointed  a  comittee  to  examine  y^  Towne  Debts  &  y"  legallity 
thereof,  and  y*'  Towne  standing  to  y''  same  as  wee  should  bring  in 
o""  Judgm'%  doe  declare  &  informe  as  followeth ;  that  wee  under- 
written as  aforesd  haveing  tryed  &  examined  y"  accounts,  charges 
and  disbursments  of  Capt",  John  Gillman,  doe  find  for  &  allow 
uuto  him.  Errors  excepted,  —     77'.  19".  00'^ 

The  last  Barr"  of  powder  w*^''  Capt".  Gillman  bought  for  y<= 
Towne  stock  is  not  included  in  y''  Sume  al)oue  written. 

Edwu  Smith. 
Edwaud  Oilman 

PeTEU   X   FOLLSIIAM. 

Exeter  continued  under  the  laws  of  Massachusetts  between 
thirty-six  and  tliirty-seven  years,  until  New  Hampshire,  in  1680, 
was  erected  into  a  royal  province.  The  rule  of  the  sister  colony 
was  on  the  whole  equitable  and  beneficial ;  and  the  little  town 
exhibited  marked  improvement,  both  in  respect  to  material  advan- 
tages, and  in  the  temper  and  harmony  of  the  people. 

NUMBER   AND    NAMES    OF    INHABITANTS. 

The  population  made  but  a  very  gradual  increase,  as  was  to  be 
expected,  for  there  was  little  in  the  frontier  settlement  to  attract 
new  comers.  It  was  those  who  were  content  to  endure  hard  work 
and  hard  fare,  in  the  faith  of  securing  better  things  in  the  future, 
who  were  the  bone  and  sinew  of  Exeter.  Yet  there  was  a  gain  in 
numbers.  On  the  twelfth  of  October,  1669,  the  General  Court 
appointed  John  Gilman  lieutenant  of  the  military  company,  at  the 
same  time  declaring  that  there  were  ' '  about  sixty  soldiers  in  Exe- 
ter." This,  if  the  usual  ratio  holds  good,  would  imply  that  there 
were  about  three  hundred  inhabitants  of  all  classes.  A  fair  pro- 
portion of  the  early  settlers  had  passed  their  lives  in  the  town,  and 
were  succeeded  by  then-  children.  Others  had  come  in,  some  for 
a  temporary,  others  for  a  permanent  residence.  The  new  names 
that  appear  upon  the  town  records  between  1640  and  1680  will  be 
given  here,  together  with  others  derived  from  other  sources.     No 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


59 


complete  list  is  to  he  found,  on  the  books  of  the  town,  or  else- 
where, and  it  is  probable  that  the  fullest  that  can  now  be  gathered, 
is  quite  imperfect. 

NAMES    FIRST    ON    THE    TOWN    BOOKS    BETWEEN    IGIO    AND    1680. 


John  Barber, 
John  Bean,    • 
Thomas  Biggs, 
Nathaniel  Bolter, 
Robert  Booth, 
Richard  Bray, 
WilUam  Bromfield, 
John  Bursley, 
Philip  Cartee, 
Philip  Chesley, 
John  Clark,     . 
Jeremy  Connor, 
Thomas  Cornish, 
Ciiristian  DoUofl', 
Abraham  Drake, 
Nathaniel  Drake, 
Teague  Drisco, 
Biley  Dudley, 
Sanuiel  Dudley, 
Theophilus  Dudley 
Eleazer  Elkins, 
Ephraim  Folsora, 
Israel  Folsom, 
John  Folsom, 
John  Folsom,  Jr., 
Nathaniel  Folsom, 
Peter  Folsom, 
Samuel  Folsom, 
John  Garland, 
Charles  Oilman, 
Edward  Gihnan,  Si., 
Edward  Oilman  (Jr.), 
John  Oilman, 
John  Oilman,  Jr., 
Moses  Oilman, 
Charles  Olidden, 
James  Godfrey, 
Alexander  Gordon, 
Samuel  Greenfield, 
William  Hacket, 


April 

1, 

1678 

January 

21, 

1660- 

1 

September 

5, 

1643 

jNIay 

6, 

1645 

February 

10, 

1647- 

8 

October 

10, 

1664 

December 

1, 

1664 

September 

-5, 

1643 

March 

29, 

1608 

January 

21, 

1664- 

5 

August 

29, 

1661 

October 

10, 

1664 

January 

12, 

1648- 

9 

March 

30, 

1668 

June 

10, 

1644 

April 

22 

1649 

October 

10, 

1664 

April 

1, 

1678 

May 

13, 

1650 

December 

1, 

1664 

]\Iarch 

3, 

1673- 

4 

April 

1, 

1678 

October 

10, 

1664 

November 

4, 

1647 

September 

28, 

1668 

October 

10, 

1664 

March 

80, 

1670 

October 

10, 

1664 

August 

26, 

1650 

September 

28, 

1668 

May 

10, 

1652 

November 

4, 

1647 

January 

12, 

1648- 

9 

April 

1, 

1678 

February 

10, 

1647- 

8 

March 

30, 

1674 

March 

16, 

1660- 

1 

October 

10, 

1664 

May 

19, 

1644 

October 

10, 

1664 

GO 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


Joseph  Hall, 
Samuel  Hall, 
Robert  Hathersay  (Her 
William  Huntington, 
Edmond  Johnson, 
Thomas  Jones, 
Joel  Judkins, 
Duny  (?)  Kelley, 
James  Kidd, 
John  Kimming, 
Thomas  King, 
Nathaniel  Ladd, 
Cornelius  Lary, 
David  Lawrence, 
Jeremy  Leavitt, 
Moses  Leavitt, 
Samuel  Leavitt, 
John  Legat,    . 
Nicholas  Liston, 
Henry  Magoon, 
Thomas  Marston,  * 
Richard  Morgan, 
Nicholas  Norris, 
George  Person  (Pearson 
Thomas  Pettit,  Jr., 
Robert  Powell, 
Thomas  Rashleigh, 
John  Robinson, 
Jonathan  Robinson, 
Jonathan  Rollins, 
Thomas  Rollins, 
John  Saunders, 
Edward  Sewall, 
Jonathan  Sewall, 
Robert  Seward, 
John  Sinclair, 
John  Smart,   . 
John  Smart,  Jr., 
Robert  Smart, 
Edward  Smith, 
Nicholas  Smith, 
Francis  Swain, 
Nicholas  Swain, 
Richard  Swain, 


sey), 


), 


October 

March 

August 

February 

August 

August 

April 

October 

March 

October 

January 

February 

October 

March 

March 

October 

September 

October 

January 

April 

January 

March 

August 

March  18  ( 

May 

October 

May 

April 

March 

October 

March 

January 

April 

April 

April 

October 

January 

April 

April 

March 

March 

March 

December 

November 


10,  1664 
11, 1678-9 
5,  1644 

27,  1644-5 
26,  1650 

5,  1644 
2,  1675 

10,  1664 

11,  1678-9 
10,  1664 
16,  1644-5 
18,  1678-9 
10,  1664 
30,  1674 
30,  1670 
10, 1664 

28,  1668 
20,  1642 

12,  1648-9 

2,  1664 
16,  1644-5 

29,  1668 

30,  1671 
about),  1679 

20,  1652 
10,  1664 

6,  1643 
20,  1652 

3,  1673-4 
10,  1664 
30,  1670 
16,  1644-5 

2,  1675 

1,  1678 

1,  1678 
10,  1664 
16,  1644-5 
22,  1649 
22,  1649 

30,  1670 

4,  1658-9 

31,  1645 
16, 1646 

4,  1647 


•  Frobably  nevet;  came  to  live  iu  Exeter 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


(U 


Joseph  Taylor, 
William  Taylor, 
John  Tedd,     . 
Jonathan  Thing, 
Jonathan  Thing,  Jr., 
Thomas  Tyler, 
Robert  Wadleigh, 
John  "Warren, 
Thomas  Warren,    . 
John  Wedgewood, 
William  Whitridge, 
Gowen  Wilson, 
Humphrey  Wilson, 
John  Young, 

111  addition  to  the  foregoing,  the  following  names  of  persons 
belonging  to  Exeter  within  the  period  referred  to,  appear  on  the 
records  of  old  Norfolk  county,  to  wit : 


March 

4,  1658-9 

June 

26,  1650 

November 

4,  1647 

January 

22,  1659-60 

March 

30,  1670 

May 

20, 1652 

March 

15,  1667-S 

April 

22,  1049 

October 

10,  1664 

March 

3,  1673-4 

April 

3,  1649 

November  24,  1650 

June 

17,  1644 

March 

30,  1670 

John  Barsham,  1669 
Isaac  Cole,  1671 
Isaac  Cross,  1651 
David  Cushing,  1655 


John  Goddard  (?)  1678  ' 
Thomas  Hithersea,  1650 
Henry  Lamprey,  1666 
Edward  Littlefield,  1651 


And  the  foUowins:  additional  names  are  extracted  from  a  list  of 
those  who  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  and  fidelity  to  the  country, 
November  30,  1G77,  at  Exeter;  all,  with  a  few  possible  excep- 
tions, inhabitants  of  the  town. 


John  Clark,  Jr. 
James  Daniel 
Stephen  Dudley 
Mr.  Michael  French 
Daniel  Gilman 
Jeremy  Gilman 
Moses  Gilman,  Jr. 
Kinsley  Hall 
Armstrong  Horn 
William  Morgan 
James  Perkins 


David  Robinson 
George  Roberts 
Edward  Roe 
James  Sinclair 
Mr.  Richard  Smart 
Robert  Smart,  Jr. 
Jonathan  Smith 
Mr.  John  Thomas 
John  Wadleigh 
Joseph  Wadleigh 


CHAPTER  III. 

EXETER  UNDER  THE  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  PROVINCIAL 

GOVERNMENT. 

The  new  governraeut  of  the  province  of  New  Hampshire  went 
into  operation  in  January,  1680.  A  governor  and  six  councillors 
were  appointed  by  the  Crown.  One  of  the  councillors  was  an 
Exeter  man,  John  Gilnian,  who,  under  the  Massachusetts  regime, 
had  been  a  magistrate  and  an  Assistant.  The  members  of  the 
lower  house  of  Assembly  were  elected  by  the  people  of  the  several 
towns,  Exeter  being  entitled  to  choose  two.  Her  deputies  in  1680 
were  Captain  Bartholomew  Tippen  and  Lieutenant  Ralph  Hall. 
The  latter  had  been  a  resident  of  the  town  for  a  number  of  years  ; 
but  Tippen  was  a  new  comer,  and  apparently  did  not  remain  long. 
He  had  been  a  man  of  some  prominence  under  the  Massachusetts 
government,  which  was  probably  the  reason  that  he  was  so  speedily 
elected  to  office  here. 

Though  the  population  of  the  town  must  have  been  about  three 
hundred,  the  number  of  qualified  voters  at  the  first  election  was 
but  twenty ;  there  being  in  the  entire  province  only  two  hundred 
and  nine.  There  was  no  uniform  rule  determining  the  qualifica- 
tions of  voters,  but  they  were  selected  arbitrarily ;  one  conse- 
quence of  which  was  that  Exeter  had  a  less  number,  in  proportion 
to  her  population,  than  some  of  the  other  towns.  Exeter  had 
nearly  seventy  tax-payers. 

For  the  first  two  years  after  New  Hampshire  had  become  a 
distinct  province,  and  so  loug  as  the  principal  offices  of  govern- 
ment were  filled  by  her  own  citizens,  affairs  went  on  smoothly. 
But  Robert  Mason,  who,  as  the  heir  of  John  Mason,  the  patentee, 
claimed  the  soil  of  New  Hampshire  as  his  property,  and  at  whose 
solicitation,  and  for  whose  benefit,  in  a  great  measure,  a  separate 
government  had  been  provided  for  the  province,  found  that  he  was 
yet  no  nearer  the  fruition  of  his  hopes  of  securing  the  title  and 
emoluments  of  the  lands,  than  he  was  under  the  rule  of  Massa- 

C2 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  63 

cbusetts.  He  therefore  made  application  to  the  king  for  the 
appointment  of  a  new  governor,  a  stranger  to  New  Hampshire, 
Edward  Cranfield,  a  need}',  arbitrary  and  unscrupulous  man. 
Mason's  request  was  complied  with,  and  he  at  once  took  effectual 
means  to  attach  the  appointee  to  his  interest. 

The  people  speedily  read  the  character  and  purposes"  of  their 
new  governor.  He  took  his  seat  in  October,  1683,  and  summoned 
an  assembly  in  November,  with  whose  concurrence  a  fresh  body  of 
laws  was  ena<3ted,  one  of  the  most  important  of  which  provided 
for  a  change  in  the  manner  of  selecting  jurors.  They  had  before 
been  chosen  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  several  towns  ;  thenceforth 
they  were  to  be  appointed  by  the  sheriff,  after  the  English  custom. 
This  piece  of  legislation  was  a  fatal  mistake  for  the  people,  for 
it  put  the  entire  pei'sonnel  of  the  judicial  courts  into  the  control  of 
the  governor ;  who,  having  the  right  to  suspend  refractory  coun- 
cillors, could  thus  appoint  such  judges  and  sheriffs,  and  tlii'ough 
them,  such  jurors  as  he  pleased. 

The  governor,  however,  kept  up  a  show  of  fairness,  until  the 
assembly  had  voted  him  a  present  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds, 
by  which  they  vainly  hoped  to  detach  him  from  the  interest  of 
Mason.  Immediately  afterwards  he  came  out  in  his  true  colors  ; 
aud  Ijecause  he  could  not  make  the  popular  branch  consent  to  a 
bill  Avhich  he  approved,  and  because  he  refused  to  approve  certain 
bills  which  they  presented,  he  resorted  to  the  extreme  and  unpre- 
cedented step  of  dissolving  the  assembly. 

gove's  rebellion  against  cranfield. 

Then,  for  the  first  time,  the  full  extent  of  their  utter  powerless- 
ness  against  the  tyranny  of  a  mercenary  governor  dawned  upon 
tlie  understanding  of  the  mass  of  the  people.  It  is  not  strange 
that  it  suggested  to  some  unbalanced  minds  the  idea  of  forcible 
resistance.  Edward  Gove  of  Hampton,  who  had  been  a  member 
of  the  dissolved  assembly,  distracted  by  indignation  and  heated 
by  strong  drink,  attempted  to  raise  the  standard  of  revolt.  He 
succeeded,  howev^er,  in  enlisting  only  eight  or  ten  young  fellows  in 
his  own  town  and  Exeter,  who  joined  him  probably  in  a  spirit  of 
adventure,  fortified,  perhaps,  with  the  idea  that  they  were  thus 
championing  the  cause  of  the  people.  Gove,  with  his  little  follow- 
ing, armed  with  sword  and  pistol,  appeared  on  horseback  in  the 
streets   of   Exeter,  and  rode  to   the  sound   of  the  trumpet,  into 


(54  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Hampton,  where  they  were  soon  arrested  and  committed  to  prison 
for  trial. 

The  hare-brained  project  never  could  have  endangered  the  gov- 
ernment for  a  moment,  but  Cranfield  chose  to  regard  it  in  the  most 
serious  light,  and  without  delay  issued  a  commission  for  a  court  to 
try  the  culprits.  Through  his  attorney  general  he  caused  an  indict- 
ment to  be  presented  to  the  grand  jury  against  them,  for  treason, 
the  highest  crime  known  to  the  law.  For  this  offence  the  prison- 
ers, nine  in  number,  were  tried,  with  indecent  haste,  little  more 
than  a  week  after  the  acts  complained  of  were  committed  ;  and, 
apparently  undefended,  were  found  guilty ;  Gove  of  the  entire 
offence  of  treason,  and  the  others  of  lesser  offences.  Gove  was 
sent  to  England  and  imprisoned  in  the  Tower  of  London  about 
three  years,  and  then  was  pardoned  and  returned  home. 

The  Exeter  men  concerned  in  this  escapade  were  Robert,  John 
and  Joseph  Wadleigh,  sons  of  Robert  Wadleigh  who  was  a 
member  of  the  dissolved  assembly,  Thomas  Rollins  and  John 
Sleeper,  and  perhaps  Mark  Baker.  They  were  all  permitted  by 
the  governor  to  be  set  at  liberty  on  giving  security  to  keep  the 
peace,  except  one  of  the  Wadleighs,  who  was  detained  in  prison 
for  more  than  a  year  afterwards  by  the  governor,  apparently  out 
of  ill  will  to  his  father.  Edward  Smith  and  John  Young,  both  of 
Exeter,  had  also  been  complained  of  as  associated  with  Gove,  but 
were  not  indicted.  Nathaniel  Ladd,  likewise  of  Exeter,  acted  as 
the  trumpeter  to  Gove's  train,  but  when  the  others  were  captured, 
made  his  escape.  It  is  probable  that  he  remained  perda  until 
after  the  trial.  He  put  his  mettle  to  a  better  use  a  few  years  later 
when  he  fought  at  Maquoit  against  the  hostile  Indians,  though  he 
received  his  death-wound  there. 

Governor  Cranfield  finding  his  selfish  projects  impeded  by  the 
presence  in  his  council  of  men  identified  in  feeling  with  the  people, 
suspended,  by  virtue  of  the  power  conferred  b}^  his  commission, 
three  of  his  councillors,  among  them  John  Gilmau  of  Exeter ;  and 
filled  their  places  with  others  more  subservient  to  his  will.  Then, 
all  things  being  prepared  to  his  mind,  Mason  entered  upon  his 
legal  campaign  against  the  landholders  of  the  province. 


ROBERT    TUFTON    JIASOn's    LAND    SUITS. 

In  order  to  understand  the  feelings  of  the  people  it  is  necessary 
to  look  at  Mason's   claim  from  their  point  of   view.     They  were 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  65 

aware  that,  half  a  century  before,  the  soil  had  been  granted  to 
Captain  John  Mason  by  the  Council  of  Plymouth,  by  virtue  of  a 
royal  patent.  But  they  believed  that  though  he  maintained  a 
settlement  upon  it  for  a  few  years,  his  heirs  after  his  death  had 
abandoned  it.  During  the  more  than  forty  years  that  had  elapsed 
since  that  time,  the  territory  had  been  regarded  and  dealt  with  as 
if  it  had  never  been  granted.  A  title  had  been  purchased  from 
the  Indian  occupants,  and  the  lands  had  thenceforward  been  bought 
and  sold,  and  transmitted  by  inheritance,  in  all  respects  as  if  they 
were  allodial.  They  had  been  improved  by  the  sweat  of  the 
settlers'  brows,  and  defended  by  their  blood  against  the  incursions 
of  savage  enemies.  These  claims  outweighed  a  thousand-fold  in 
tlieir  minds  the  stale  paper  title  of  Mason,  His  demands  they 
regarded  as  unjust  and  inequitable  in  the  highest  degree,  and  they 
were  prepared  to  resist  them  to  the  bitter  end. 

But  as  the  courts  were  now  constituted,  and  the  jurors  selected, 
they  knew  that  they  were  helpless.  Mason  brought  a  great  number 
of  suits,  in  the  different  towns  of  the  province,  to  recover  the 
lauds  from  their  occupants.  In  Exeter  the  following  persons 
were  sued :  Nathaniel  Folsom,  Ricliard  Morgan,  Kinsley  Hall, 
Ralph  Hall,  Christian  Dolloft",  Ephraim  Folsom,  Philip  Cartee, 
Moses  Leavitt,  John  Folsom,  Eleazer  Elkius,  Jonathan  Robinson, 
Jonathan  Thing,  Humphrey  Wilson,  Peter  Folsom,  John  Gilmau, 
Jr.  and  iiphraim  Folsom;  —  in  the  adjoining  precinct  of  Squam- 
scot,  Andrew  \Yiggin  and  AN^illiam  Moore,  Jr. 

Pliable  juries  were  empanelled  by  the  sheriff,  a  creature  of 
Crantield's,  and  the  tenants  knew  it  to  be  idle  to  make  defence  ; 
so  verdicts  were  returned  against  them  "  at  the  rate  of  from  nine 
to  twelve  in  a  day."  So  far  as  the  courts  were  concerned  the 
governor  and  Mason  had  everything  their  own  way. 

But  when  the  attempt  was  made  to  put  the  judgments  in  force, 
the  tenants  had  their  innings.  The  sheriff  could  indeed  formally 
deliver  to  the  claimant  the  possession  of  the  lauds  he  had  recov- 
ered ;  but  the  formality  amounted  to  nothing,  and  the  tenants 
continued  to  enjoy  the  premises  as  before.  Attempts  were  made 
to  sell  the  lands  that  had  been  thus  levied  on,  but  nobody  woul4 
buy  them.  After  a  few  experiments  of  this  kind  Mason  recognized 
the  futility  of  the  proceedings,  and  for  the  time  desisted.  But  it 
was  fully  a  quarter  of  a  century  before  the  verdict  of  an  indepen- 
dent jury  put  a  quietus  on  the  Masoniau  claims,  and  relieved  the 
land-owners  from  apprehension. 


66  HISTORY  OF  EXJ^TER. 


KESISTANCE    TO    ILLEGAL   TAXATION. 


But  the  irrepressible  Craufield,  in  the  language  of  one  of  his 
contemporaries,  "had  come  here  after  money,  and  money  he 
would  have."  After  vainly  trying  several  devices  to  induce  the 
General  Assembly  to  pass  a  bill  to  raise  money,  he  determined  in 
1684  to  levy  taxes  on  the  people  with  the  assent  of  the  council 
only,  and  without  the  concurrence  of  the  popular  branch  of  the 
assembly.  This  was  clearly  a  usurpation  of  power  ;  and  even  his 
accommodating  council  at  first  remonstrated  against  it.  But  the 
apprehension  of  an  outbreak  among  the  Indians  at  the  eastward 
induced  them  to  comply.  The  taxes  were  ordered  by  the  governor 
and  council,  and  warrants  were  issued  to  the  constables  of  the 
several  towns  for  their  collection.  But  they  met  everywhere  the 
same  reception  as  in  Exeter,  where  John  Folsom,  the  constable, 
returned  his  warrant  with  the  statement  ' '  tliat  he  had  demanded 
the  taxes,  but  was  answered  by  almost  all  of  them  that  the 
[governor's]  commission  directed  the  taxes  should  be  raised  by 
the  General  Assembly,  but  these  being  done  by  the  governor  and 
council,  they  would  not  pay." 

Thereupon  the  Exeter  warrant  was  committed  for  collection  to 
Thomas  Thurton,  provost  marshal  of  the  province,  together  with 
an    order  of   the  Court  of    Sessions  for   a  fine  of    fifty  shillings 
against  John  Folsom,  for  neglect  of  duty  as  constable.      Thurton 
was  a  coarse,  brutal  man,  and  his  errand  was  not  calculated  to 
win  him  a  very  hearty  welcome.     He  came  to  Exeter  by  way  of 
Hampton,  attended  by  his  deputy,  both  on  horseback,  with  swords 
by  their  sides.     Half  a  score  of  Hampton  men,  armed  with  clubs, 
followed  them  on  horseback  to  see  and  share  the  anticipated  sport. 
They  proceeded  first   to  the  house  of    Edward  Gilman,  situated 
nearly  opposite  the  site  of  the  present  First  church.    Such  a  caval- 
cade naturally  attracted  attention,  and  it  took  little  time  for  the 
whole  village  to  learn  the  business  that  had  brought  it.     A  crowd 
gathered.     John  Folsom,  the  delinquent  constable,  appeared,  and 
Thurton    demanded   of    him   the    fine   imposed   by   the    Quarter 
Sessions.     Folsom   replied   that   if   the   marshal  "  came  to   levy 
execution  at  his  house,  he  should  meet  with  a  red-hot  spit  and 
scalding  water ;  and  that  he  did  not  value  any  warrant  from  the 
governor,  council  or  justice  of  the  peace,  and  that  the   marshal 
might  go,  like  a  rogue  as  he  was." 

Two  of  Mr.  Gilman's  aunts  were  at  his  house,  the  wife  of  John 
Gilman,    the    suspended   councillor,  and  of   Moses    Gilman,    his 


» 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  67 

brother  ;  and  they  likewise  gave  Thurton  to  understand  that  they 
had  kettles  of  boiling  water  ready  for  him,  if  he  came  to  their 
houses  to  demand  rates.  The  marshal  now  began  to  realize  that 
he  had  come  on  a  bootless  errand.  The  crowd,  reinforced  by 
the  addition  among  others  of  the  Rev.  John  Cotton,  the  temporary 
minister  of  the  town,  then  began  to  hustle  the  marshal  and  his 
deputy  up  and  down  the  house,  asking  them  tauntingly  what  they 
wore  at  their  sides, —  meaning  their  swords,  which  were,  to  be 
sure,  rather  ridiculous  appendages,  when  their  wearers  dared  not 
use  them.  There  was  nothing  worse  than  horse  play,  but  the 
marshal  understood  very  well  that  if  he  were  to  attempt  any  serious 
resistance,  he  was  liable  to  be  roughly  treated.  From  Edward 
Oilman's  he  and  his  deputy  went  next  to  the  house  of  the  widow 
of  Henry  Sewall,  to  obtain  refreshment  for  themselves  and  their 
horses.  The  crowd  followed  them  thither,  and  still  kept  up  the 
same  system  of  annoyance.  Then  the  officers  and  their  unwel- 
come retinue  proceeded  to  the  house  of  Jonathan  Thing,  to  serve 
an  attachment  upon  him  ;  but  the  crowd  would  not  suffer  them  to 
do  so,  but  plainly  declared  to  the  marshal  that  he  "  should  do  no 
business  relating  to  the  execution  of  his  office."  In  the  end,  the 
officers  were  glad  to  get  off  with  whole  skins,  and  without  making 
the  least  progress  in  the  business  they  had  come  for. 

We  obtain  our  only  knowledge  of  this  transaction  from  the  testi- 
mony of  Thurton  himself,  a  bitterly  prejudiced  and  unscrupulous 
witness  ;  but  it  is  evident  that  though  the  whole  community  were 
indignant  at  the  illegal  attempt  at  taxation,  and  determined  that 
the  marshal  should  not  be  permitted  to  execute  his  warrant,  yet 
they  scrupulously  refrained  from  acts  of  violence.  The  glimpse, 
too,  that  we  get  of  the  Exeter  women  of  two  hundred  years  ago 
proves  that  they  possessed  a  spirit  worthy  of  the  mothers  of  men 
who  had  to  endure  the  hardships  of  a  frontier  life,  and  to  meet  the 
onslaughts  of  a  savage  foe,  with  no  defence  save  then-  own  right 
arms  and  trusty  weapons. 

THE    PROVINCE    WITHOUT    A    GOVERNMENT. 

The  records  of  Exeter  tell  nothing  of  the  transactions  of  a 
period  of  several  years  between  1680  and  1690.  There  were  proba- 
bly reasons  in  the  condition  of  the  times  for  this  reticence.  Robert 
Mason  sought  to  support  his  land-claims  by  searching  the  books  of 
records  of  the  several  towns,  whereupon  the  books  were  abstracted, 
and  for  a  time  disappeared.    Meantime  Governor  Cranfield  became 


(58  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

discouraged  in  his  attempt  to  gather  wealth  from  his  position  in 
New  Hampshire,  and  abandoned  his  office.  Walter  Barefoote 
succeeded  him,  and  was  in  his  turn  succeeded  by  Joseph  Dudley. 
Then  in  1686  the  province  passed  under  the  rule  of  Edmund 
Andros,  governor  of  New  England.  As  the  appointee  and  repre- 
sentative of  a  Catholic  sovereign,  James  11. ,  he  made  few  friends 
in  Puritan  Massachusetts  where  was  his  official  residence.  His 
downfall  approached  on  this  side  of  the  water,  with  equal  steps 
with  that  of  his  royal  master,  on  the  other  side.  Almost  simul- 
taneously with  the  deposition  and  miprisoument  of  Andros  by  the 
Massachusetts  colonists,  in  the  spring  of  1689,  came  the  news  of 
the  Revolution  in  England,  and  the  accession  of  William  III. 
The  New  England  colonies  were  thus  left  without  a  representative 
of  royalty  to  rule  over  them.  Massachusetts,  with  her  charter  and 
long  experience,  easily  set  up  a  temporary  government  which 
answered  all  her  wants  ;  but  New  Hampshire  had  no  facilities  for 
the  purpose,  and  simply  went  on  for  nearly  a  year  witliout  an 
executive  ;  and,  thanks  to  the  orderly  disposition  and  good  sense 
of  the  people,  without  serious  difficulties  ;  and  this  notwithstand- 
ing the  situation  was  further  complicated  by  the  fact  that  an 
Indian  war  was  raging  in  the  province  at  the  time,  and  Dover  and 
Oyster  river  were  the  scenes  of  savage  incursions  and  atrocities. 

More  than  one  attempt  was  made  to  induce  the  people  of  the 
province  to  unite  in  choosing  delegates  to  establish  a  government 
ad  interim^  but  for  a  time  without  avail.  They  did,  indeed,  go  so 
far  as  to  elect  William  Vaughan  of  Portsmouth,  a  member  of  the 
board  of  commissioners  of  the  United  Colonies  of  New  P2ngland,  for 
defence  against  the  Indians  ;  though  there  is  no  entry  upon  the 
records  of  Exeter  that  she  took  part  in  the  election.  And  it  was 
not  until  December,  1689,  that  the  New  Hampshire  towns  reached 
the  point  of  choosing  delegates  to  meet  for  the  purpose  of  devising 
some  method  of  protection  against  the  common  enemy.  Delegates 
were  then  elected  by  Portsmouth,  Dover,  Exeter  and  Hampton, 
who  assembled  in  convention  at  Portsmouth  on  the  twenty-fourth 
of  January,  1690.  The  whole  number  was  twenty-two,  of  whom 
four  were  from  Exeter  :  Robert  Wadleigh,  Samuel  Leavitt,  William 
Hilton  and  Jonathan  Thing ;  the  last  two  talking  the  place  of 
William  Moore,  who  was  originally  chosen.  The  convention 
agreed  upon  a  brief  plan  for  the  present  government  of  the 
province,  and  submitted  it  to  the  people  ;  and  in  pursuance  thereof 
in  Dover,  if  nowhere  else,  an  election  was  held  and  officers  were 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  69 

voted  for.  But  the  unreasonable  jealousy  manifested  by  Hampton 
towards  the  other  towns,  prevented  the  proposed  government  from 
going  into  effect. 

By  this  time  the  need  of  a  recognized  head  of  autliority  in  the 
province  was  so  apparent  and  so  pressing,  that  some  of  the  princi- 
pal men  of  Portsmouth  who  were  kindly  affected  towards  Massa- 
chusetts, drew  up  a  petition,  addressed  to  the  authorities  of  that 
colony,  to  be  received  under  their  government  and  protection,  as 
formerly,  until  their  majesties'  pleasure  should  be  known.  The 
petition  was  speedily  circulated  in  the  several  towns,  and  received 
the  signatures  of  three  hundred  and  seventy-two  persons,  a  very 
large  proportion  of  the  adult  males  in  the  province.  Of  these, 
sixty  or  seventy,  at  least,  were  residents  of  Exeter.  Agreeably  to 
the  prayer  of  the  petition  the  old  union  with  Massachusetts  was 
renewed  on  the  nineteenth  of  March,  1690,  and  lasted  until  the 
commission  of  Governor  Samuel  Allen  was  published  in  New 
Hampshire  on  the  thirteenth  of  August,  1692. 

During  the  second  union  Massachusetts  made  a  call  upon  the 
New  Hampshire  towns  to  choose  each  "  two  meet  persons  "  to 
assemble  together  with  the  Justices  of  the  Peace  of  the  province, 
to  adjust  the  chai^ges  of  the  Indian  war,  and  to  assess  the  amount 
thereof  upon  the  inhabitants.  Exeter  chose  Peter  Coffin  and  John 
Gilraan  as  her  representatives  for  this  duty. 

The  records  of  the  town  do  not  show  any  important  action  for 
several  years  after  this,  save  what  properly  belongs  to  other 
departments  of  this  history.  At  the  annual  meeting  in  April, 
1705,  John  Light  was  received  an  inhabitant,  and  had  a  condi- 
tional grant  of  land ;  perhaps  the  last  instance  of  this  formal 
investiture  with  the  privileges  of  citizenship.  It  was  not  many 
years  later  that  the  final  division  of  the  town's  lands  was  made, 
after  which  there  was  no  reason,  and  no  attempt,  to  keep  up  the 
old  theory  of  a  close  corporation  of  the  inhabitants. 

Shortly  afterwards  the  town  began  to  improve  their  system  of 
records.  It  was  voted  in  1707  that  "  all  rates  made  by  the  select- 
men shall  be  committed  to  the  town  clerk  to  be  entered  upon 
record,  before  they  be  delivered  to  the  constable  ;"  in  1713  that 
"  the  town  clerk  buy  a  book  at  the  town's  charge  and  enter  all  the 
votes  needed  by  the  selectmen,  at  large,  and  all  accounts  of  the 
town's  disbursements,  debt  and  credit ;"  and  in  1721  that  "  a  book 
shall  be  bought  for  the  selectmen  to  keep  a  fair  record  of  what 
money  they  raise,  and  how  they  dispose  of  it."     These  acts  speak 


70  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

well  for  the  care  and  prudence  of  the  people,  and  merit  the 
warmest  gratitude  of  the  antiquary  and  historian  in  later  times. 

From  the  selectmen's  accounts  we  learn  that  in  the  year  1714 
they  paid  bounties  to  Captain  Hill  and  Samuel  Dudley,  Jr.,  on 
"five  wolves'  heads."  These  animals  were  so  great  a  source  of 
annoyance  that  the  bounty  paid  for  their  destruction  was  raised 
by  the  town,  two  years  afterwards,  to  two  pounds  a  head. 

In  the  year  1717  the  selectmen  paid  to  Peter  Folsom,  Jr.,  for 
work  on  the  stocks,  fifteen  shillings  aud  eight  pence ;  and  to 
Samuel  Goodhue  for  mending  the  glass  in  the  meeting-house,  one 
pound  and  eleven  pence.  Later  payments  for  the  same  objects, 
especially  the  latter,  appear  on  the  selectmen's  account  books,  with 
some  frequency.  The  meeting-house  windows  must  have  been  a 
burden  on  the  rate-payers. 

In  the  same  year  the  province  authorized  an  issue  of  paper 
money  to  the  amount  of  fifteen  thousand  pounds,  which  was  to  be 
lent  to  inhabitants  in  small  sums  on  approved  landed  security. 
The  town  chose  Samuel  Thing,  Nicholas  Gilman,  Nicholas  Gordon, 
Moses  Leavitt  and  Jonathan  Thing  a  committee  to  act  with  the 
representatives,  in  letting  a  portion  of  the  money,  in  Exeter,  and 
empowered  a  majority  of  them  to  appraise  upon  oath  the  value  of 
the  lands  offered  as  security  for  such  loans. 

At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted  that  Samuel  Thing  and  Henry 
Dyer  request  Colonel  John  Bridger,  his  majesty's  surveyor  gen- 
eral, to  mark  the  trees  in  the  town  which  were  fit  for  the  king's 
service,  "  so  that  his  majesty's  subjects  may  go  to  work  to  get  their 
livelihood."  The  law  which  reserved  for  masts  for  the  royal  nav\' 
the  largest  and  finest  growth  of  the  forest,  was  a  stnnding 
grievance  to  the  colonists,  as  the  language  of  the  above  vote 
implies,  and  led,  as  we  shall  see,  to  later  trouble.  In  the  same 
year  the  town  for  the  first  time  voted  compensation  to  their  officers  ; 
twenty  shillings  to  each  of  the  selectmen  and  five  shillings  to  each 
of  the  assessors,  and  committee.  The  presumption  is  that  before 
that  time  these  officers  had  performed  their  duties  gratuitously, 
regarding  the  honor  of  their  positions  as  a  sufficient  recompense. 
It  is.  perhaps,  needless  to  add  that  the  fashion  of  payment,  once 
set,  has  been  pretty  faithfully  followed,  from  that  time  to  this. 

On  March  22,  1722,  the  town  voted  to  make  the  minister's  rate 
by  itself,  to  be  paid  in  money ;  and  all  other  town  charges  to  be 
paid  in  "peichers;"  an  ineffectual  attempt,  probabW,  to  write 
"  specie."     But  specie  at  that  time  meant  something  quite  differ- 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  71 

ent  from  gold  and  silver  coin.  It  must  have  referred  to  articles 
of  produce  or  mei'chandise  at  certain  specified  prices,  for  the  vote 
proceeds  to  define  the  "  specishers  "  (as  the  word  is  spelled  this 
time)  in  which  the  town  charges  may  be  paid,  as  being  "  mer- 
chantable boards  and  joist  at  40/-  per  M.  ;  Indian  corn  at  3/- 
per  bushel;  Barley 3/6;  Eye  4/-;  wheat  5/6;  Ked  oak  hhd. 
staves  30/-  per  M.  ;  White  oak  40/-;  White  oak  bbl.  30/-; 
good  pork  4  d  a  lb  ;  beef  at  3  d." 

The  accounts  of  the  selectmen  for  the  year  1721  show  that  they 
paid  four  shillings  and  sixpence  for  "  a  brazen  head  put  on  the 
black  staff ;"  and  those  of  1728  a  like  sum  for  "  a  black  staff."  In 
our  days  of  republican  simplicity  it  requires  a  moment's  thought  to 
realize  that  these  entries  refer  to  the  official  badge  of  the  consta- 
ble, which  was  then  a  black  rod  surmounted  by  a  royal  crown  of 
brass.  Though  we  may  smile  at  such  insignia  now,  there  was  a 
deal  of  dignity  and  of  authority  too,  in  them,  a  hundred  and  fifty 
years  ago. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  town,  held  September  28,  1731,  a  new 
meeting-house  having  been  built,  it  was  voted  that  the  old  one  be 
taken  down  as  soon  as  it  could  be  with  convenience,  and  that  a 
court-house  be  built  of  the  stutf  of  said  old  house.  Theophilus 
Smith,  Benjamin  Thing  and  Jeremiah  Conner  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  "  discourse  with  workmen  "  about  taking  down  the 
old  meeting-house  and  building  a  court-house,  and  to  make  report. 

It  was  also  voted  that  the  town-house  should  be  built  forty  feet 
long  and  twenty-five  feet  wide,  and  be  set  on  the  south  side  of  the 
highway  over  against  the  meeting-house,  as  nigh  the  school-house 
as  might  be  with  conveniency  to  the  town  land  ;  and  that  the 
court-house  be  finished,  so  far  as  it  could  be  done,  by  the  first  of 
March  next,  so  that  the  court  might  sit  in  it. 

This  provision  for  a  court-house,  which  in  all  probability  was 
designed  to  be  fitted  up  in  the  town-house  building,  was  made  in 
consequence  of  an  act  passed  by  the  General  Assembly  in  1730, 
which  provided  for  one  term  of  the  Inferior  Court  to  be  held  in 
each  year  in  Exeter,  and  gave  the  like  privilege  to  Dover  and  to 
Hampton.  Prior  to  this,  all  the  courts  in  the  province  were  held 
in  Portsmouth,  to  the  manifest  inconvenience  of  parties  who 
resided  in  the  interior.  Great  efforts  were  made  before  and  after 
this  time,  to  give  the  inland  towns  a  small  share,  at  least,  of  the 
courts  ;  but  the  people  of  Portsmouth,  aided  by  the  influence  of 
the  provincial  government,  constantly  resisted  and  obstructed  the 


72  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

just  legislation  for  the  purpose,  up  to  the  time  of  the  Revolution, 
when  P^xeter  became  in  effect  the  capital  of  the  State.  It  is  not 
known  whether  under  the  law  of  1730  even  a  single  term  of  the 
Inferior  Court  was  held  outside  of  Portsmouth ;  for  the  provincial 
officials  had  the  address  to  induce  the  king  in  council  either  to 
refuse  his  assent  to  the  law,  or  to  order  the  repeal  of  it.  The 
tradition  is  that  this  was  done  by  the  influence  of  the  lieutenant 
governor  and  surveyor  general,  in  revenge  for  the  insult  to  his 
authority  committed  by  the  "mast-tree  mob"  in  Exeter,  hereafter 
to  be  mentioned. 

The  town-house  was  finished  in  1732  and  stood  nearly  opposite 
the  meeting-house.  It  was  flanked  b}'  the  stocks  and  whipping- 
post, erected  in  the  most  public  position  as  a  terror  to  evil-doers. 
The  "town-house  rates"  amounted  to  two  hundred  and  forty 
pounds,  four  shillings  and  eight  pence.* 

THE    MAST-TKEE    RIOT    OE    1734. 

The  lumbermen  of  the  New  Hampshire  frontiers  were  not  men 
troubled  with  nice  scruples.  They  regarded  the  legal  claim  of  tlie 
king  to  the  most  valuable  trees  on  their  lands,  as  one  which  it  was 
not  morally  wrong  for  them  to  evade  or  to  transgress.  And  this 
feeling  was  intensified  by  the  domineering  conduct  towards  them 
of  the  surveyor  general  and  his  agents.  Consequently  there  were 
not  a  few  of  them  who  had  no  hesitation  in  taking  the  risk  incurred 
by  despoiling  the  royal  navy  of  its  thnber,  and  the  surveyor  gen- 
eral of  his  perquisites.  If  they  were  detected  and  convicted,  they 
were  willing  to  pay  the  penalty ;  if  they  escaped  discovery  they 
slept  none  the  less  soundly. 

Complaints  had  been  repeatedly  made  in  regard  to  some  of  the 
people  of  Exeter  that  they  paid  small  regard  to  the  laws  on  this 
subject.  As  early  as  1708  John  Bridger,  then  surveyor  general, 
addressed  a  letter  to  Peter  Coffin  and  Theopbilus  Dudley,  justices 
of  the  peace  in  Exeter,  charging  that  several  mast  trees  which 
were  reserved  for  her  majesty's  navy,  had  been  felled,  cut  and 
destroyed  by  Jeremiah  Gilman,  James  Oilman,  David  Oilman, 
Samuel  Piper,  John  Downer,  Moses  Pike  and  Jonathan  Smith  ; 
and  requiring  said  Coffin  and  Dudley  to  do  them  justice  according 


*0n  March  2G,  1733,  the  town  excused  the  tax-payers  of  the  new  parish  of  New- 
market from  an  assessment  of  twenty-flve  pounds  for  this  object,  "  in  considera- 
tion that  tliey  had  lately  been  at  great  expense  iu  building  a  meeting-house  and 
settling  a  minister  there." 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  73 

to  law.     What  came  of  the  application  is  not   known,  but  it  is 
questionable  whether  the  surve^'-or  general  got  much  satisfaction. 

His  successor  in  office,  David  Dunbar,  who  had  been  a  soldier 
and  was  arbitrary,  needy  and  litigious,  learning  or  suspecting  that 
mast  trees  had  been  cut  in  P^xeter,  in  the  early  part  of  the  year 
1734,  visited  a  saw-mill  at  the  Copyhold,  as  it  was  and  still  is 
called,  in  that  part  of  Exeter  which  is  now  Brentwood,  to  see  if 
he  could  discover  any  lumber  there,  from  trees  of  the  size  reserved 
for  the  nav3^  The  people  employed  in  the  woods  around  were  of 
course  at  once  apprised  of  his  presence,  and  divined  his  purpose  ; 
but  having  very  little  respect  for  dignitaries  of  his  sort,  made  the 
welkin  ring  with  their  shouts  and  cries  and  with  the  discharges  of 
small  arms.  The  surveyor  general,  fearing  that  if  he  persisted  in 
his  investigations,  they  would  proceed  to  acts  of  violence,  con- 
cluded that  discretion  was  the  better  part  of  valor,  and  retreated. 
But  he  was  satisfied  that  the  law  had  been  violated,  and  that  an 
inspection  of  the  piles  of  lumber  about  the  mill  would  prove  it.  On 
his  return  to  Portsmouth,  therefore,  he  employed  ten  men  to  proceed 
in  a  sail  boat  to  Exeter,  and  thence  to  go  to  the  Copyhold  mill,  to 
set  the  king's  broad  arrow  on  any  lumber  they  might  find  there, 
which  gave  evidence  of  being  cut  from  mast  trees. 

These  men  landed  at  the  village  of  Exeter  in  the  evening  of 
April  23,  1j6.S4^  and  proceeded  to  the  public  house  of  Samuel 
Gilman  on  "Water  street,  the  same  house  afterwards  occupied  by 
Oliver  Peabody,  and  still  standing,  though  much  altered.  There 
they  passed  the  evening,  in  the  fashion  of  the  tune.  Meanwhile 
the  fact  of  their  arrival  and  the  nature  of  their  errand  spread 
rapidly  through  the  town.  A  number  of  the  persons  who  were 
most  aggrieved  by  the  operations  of  the  surveyor  general,  assem- 
bled at  the  public  house  kept  by  Zebulon  Giddinge,*  afterwards 
occupied  by  the  family  of  the  Eev.  William  F.  Rowland,  and  also 
still  standing,  and  there  disguising  themselves  so  as  to  resemble 
Indians,  sallied  forth,  about  thirty  in  number,  to  head  off  Dunbar's 
expedition. 

What  they  did,  we  learn  chiefly  from  the  testimony  of  those 
whom  they  assailed,  men  neither  by  character  nor  by  feeling  likely 
to  give  a  perfectly  impartial  account.  But  there  seems  little  doubt 
that  the  quasi  Indians  seized  upon  several  of  Dunbar's  party  as 
they  were  about  going  to  bed,  and  handled  them  pretty  roughly, 


*The  orthography  of  this  name  has  been  modernized  into  Giddings. 


74  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

hauling  them  down  stairs  and  hustling  them  out  of  the  door,  at 
the  same  time  uttering  dire  threats  against  them.  They  certainly 
frightened  and  dispersed  the  party,  and  scuttled  their  boat  and 
destroyed  the  sails.  The  unlucky  wights,  who  little  expected  such 
treatment,  were  fain  to  retrace  their  way  to  Portsmouth  as  best 
they  could,  bearing  the  marks  of  their  adventure  in  the  shape  of 
torn  clothes  and  bloody  noses,  if  nothing  worse. 

The  actors  in  this  illegal  proceeding  were  probably  well  known 
in  Exeter,  and  included  men  who  were  by  no  means  habitual  law- 
breakers. Dunbar  was  furious  at  their  demonstration.  Holding 
the  office  of  lieutenant  governor  as  well  as  of  surveyor  general,  he 
instantly  summoned  a  meeting  of  the  council,  Belcher,  the  gover- 
nor, being  at  the  time  absent  from  the  province.  To  them  he 
represented  that  he  believed  the  justices  of  the  peace  in  Exeter 
had  some  knowledge  of  the  affair,  and  proposed  that  they  should 
be  sent  for  and  examined  before  the  council,  and  that  a  proclama- 
tion should  be  issued,  offering  a  reward  for  detecting  the  persons 
that  were  guilty  of  the  oft'ence.  The  council,  however,  were  not 
prepai'ed  to  sanction  tliese  proposals  of  the  testy  lieutenant  gover- 
nor, but  replied  that  in  their  opinion  the  examination  of  the  matter 
appertained  to  the  justices  of  the  peace,  and  not  to  the  council, 
and  the  issuing  of  a  proclamation  appertained  to  tlie  governor ; 
and  therefore  they  did  not  advise  it  without  his  order. 

The  governor  did,  indeed,  issue  a  proclamation,  but  offered  no 
reward,  except  the  vague  promise  that  "whosoever  shall  detect 
the  offenders  above  mentioned,  or  any  of  them,  shall  receive  all 
proper  marks  of  the  countenance  and  favor  of  this  government." 
The  governor  and  his  lieutenant  were  not  friends. 

The  baffled  lieutenant  governor  subsequently  addressed  a  letter 
to  Nicholas  Gilman,  John  Gilman  and  Bartholomew  Thing,  justices 
of  the  peace  at  Exeter,  in  which  he  demanded  that  some  of  them 
should  go  with  Charles  Gorwood,  his  assistant,  to  Copyhold  mill. 
Black  rock  mill,  upper  and  lower  Tuckaway  mills,  Wadleigh's  mill, 
the  Book  mill,  Gilman's  mill  and  Piscassic  mill,  all  in  Exeter,  and 
the  last  two  near  Newmarket,  and  there  oblige  men  to  separate 
and  mark  for  his  majesty's  use  such  white  pine  boards  as  they 
found  sawn  from  mast  trees.  And  in  case  of  the  non-compliance 
of  said  justices  with  the  above  order,  he  required  them  to  hire  or 
impress  a  man  to  go  with  said  Gorwood  for  the  purpose  aforesaid. 

The  justices,  after  nearly  a  month's  delay,  replied  that  they  had 
employed  a  man  to  go  with   Gorv.^ood  as  desired  ;  but  as  to  his 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  75 

demand  that  some  of  them  should  go,  they  could  not,  upon  the 
most  deliberate  consideration,  find  any  authority  to  support  them 
in  so  doing.  Thus  Dunbar  had  to  submit  to  a  snubbing  in  every 
quarter. 

The  ludicrous  phase  of  the  affair  is  to  be  found  in  the  testimony 
of  Peter  Greeley,  who  was  Dunbar's  particular  assistant  and 
henchman.  He  deposed  that  Simon  Oilman  of  Exeter  revealed  to 
him  in  confidence  that  the  people  of  Exeter  had  hired  three  Natick 
Indians  to  kill  Dunbar,  Theodore  Atkinson,  and  himself  (Greeley), 
and  had  supplied  the  Indians  with  a  quart  of  rum  each  every  day, 
"  that  they  should  not  fail  of  their  work  ;"  and  that  the  Indians, 
as  soon  as  they  had  accomplished  the  deed,  were  to  go  at  once  to 
Natick,  where  they  would  not  be  discovered.  Apparently  it 
never  dawned  on  Peter  Greeley  or  his  headstrong  employer  that 
Simon  was  "  chaffing"  them,  and  that  the  whole  demonstrations, 
from  Dunbar's  visit  at  Copyhold  mill  to  the  riotous  proceedings  at 
Exeter,  were  simply  intended  to  prevent  the  further  interference 
of  the  surveyor  general  with  the  lumbermen,  however  they  failed 
to  respect  the  trees  reserved  for  the  use  of  his  majesty's  navy. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  in  March,  1738,  Elisha  Odlin  was 
chosen  town  clerk  in  the  place  of  Bartholomew  Thing,  who  had 
held  the  office  for  several  years  befoi-e.  So  far  as  we  can  now 
discover,  the  change  was  made  in  consequence  of  the  feeling  that 
had  arisen  on  the  then  engrossing  question  of  the  division  of  the 
town's  common  lands.  For  some  cause,  now  unknown.  Thing 
declined  to  deliver  up  the  town  books  and  records  to  his  successor. 

It  may  be  that  he  had  some  show  of  right  for  withholding  the 
records.  Concealment  of  the  public  archives  was  no  new  thing  in 
the  history  of  the  province,  and  it  had  taken  place  probably  with 
very  general  approval.  But  in  the  present  case  the  majority  of 
the  inhabitants  were  indignant  at  the  late  town  clerk's  conduct. 
A  meeting  of  the  town  was  called,  and  voted  that  the  books  should 
be  removed  out  of  Thing's  hands  and  put  into  Odlin's  ;  that  Jona- 
than Wadleigh,  Edward  Hall,  John  Robinson,  John  Odlin,  Jr. 
and  Zebulon  Giddiuge,  should  be  a  committee  to  prosecute  Thing 
if  he  refused  to  deliver  them,  and  that  the  selectmen  should  raise 
money  to  defray  the  charges  of  such  prosecution.  Nothing  further 
is  heard  of  the  recalcitrant  town  clerk's  scruples. 

The  town  meeting  of  June  15,  1738,  was  held  in  the  town-house, 
the  first  information  which  the  record  affords,  of  its  completion. 

It  appears  that  the  town  was  somewhat   infested  with  wolves. 


76  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

even  as  late  as  1742,  for  at  the  March  meeting  in  that  year  a 
bounty  of  five  pounds  was  voted  "  to  any  person  of  the  first  parish 
who  should  kill  a  grown  wolf  within  said  parish  limits."  At  the 
first  glance  it  does  not  appear  why  this  offer  should  be  confined  to 
a  single  j^arish,  unless  indeed  it  referred  to  a  "  wolf  in  sheep's 
clothing."  But  when  it  is  remembered  that  the  inhabitants  of  the 
southwesterly  part  of  the  town  had  recently  been  set  off  into  a 
separate  parish,  it  is  easy  to  see  that  the  intention  was  to  bind 
Exeter  to  pay  the  bounty,  and  to  leave  the  new  precinct  of  Brent- 
wood to  act  for  itself.  The  reason  of  making  the  bounty  so  large, 
undoubtedly,  was  the  depreciation  of  the  paper  money  of  the 
period. 

In  looking  over  the  records  of  the  town  meetings  we  are  often 
met  by  entries  of  adjournments  for  fifteen  minutes,  or  for  other 
brief  periods.  The  cause  of  these  little  intermissions  of  business 
was  ostensibly  to  allow  the  voters  time  for  consultation,  or  the 
committees  the  opportunity  to  prepare  their  reports.  But  when 
we  remember  the  habits  of  the  times,  and  that  there  were  compara- 
tively few  men  who  did  not  indulge  in  strong  potations  pretty 
regularly  every  day,  we  can  see  that  another  consideration  was, 
perhaps,  not  without  its  weight.  It  was  manifestly  only  fair  that 
men  should  be  allowed  time  to  take  their  customary  refreshment, 
without  apprehension  that  some  objectionable  vote  might  be 
carried  in  their  absence.  An  adjournment  put  all  upon  an  equal 
footing, —  in  one  sense,  at  least.  It  is  proper  to  say,  however, 
that  in  the  matter  of  dram-drinking,  Exeter  was  no  worse,  and 
probabl}'  no  better,  than  all  other  places.  Indeed,  in  after  years, 
when  the  temperance  reform  arose,  the  town  earl}^  took  advanced 
ground  in  its  favor.  As  indicative,  however,  of  the  universal  use 
of  strong  liquors  on  all  occasions,  we  find  among  the  town  accounts 
for  1722  these  entries  :  "  Expenses  of  town,  ram  and  shuger  5/6  ; 
rum,  raising  the  bell  1/- ;  rum  and  shuger  2/6  ;  same  10/-;  same 
1/6."  In  the  accounts  for  1736  are  found  the  following :  "paid 
Capt.  Samuel  Gilman  for  drink  given  to  those  men  that  signed  a 
deed  for  land  in  the  way  that  led  to  drtnkioater  road  17/4,"  and 
"  for  1  gall,  rum  and  2  lb.  sugar  and  allspice  for  William  Gay's 
(a  town  pauper's)  funeral,  1  1.  5  s.  2  d."  and  in  1743,  these  :  "  for 
rum  and  sugar  in  proving  the  bounds  of  Kensington  17/9;"  and 
"  Benjamin  Thing  for  rum  to  move  the  pound  10/-." 

In  the  year  1 746  the  people  of  Newmarket  and  others  presented 
a  petition  to  the  General  Assembly  for   leave  to   erect  a  draw- 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  77 

bridge  over  the  Squamscot  river  between  Newmarket  and  Strat- 
ham.  As  early  as  the  year  1700,  a  right  of  ferry  had  been  granted 
there  to  Eichard  Hilton,  which  had  been  in  use  up  to  that  time. 

The  convenience  of  a  bridge  to  the  people  of  the  towns  which 
had  in  the  meantime  grown  up  on  the  northwestern  side  of  the 
river,  who  had  to  pass  it  in  order  to  go  to  Portsmouth  the  seat  of 
government,  furnished  a  powerful  argument  to  the  ^jietitioners. 
But  Exeter  feared  that  a  bridge  would  cause  injury  to  its  business, 
and  appointed  Ezekiel  Gilman,  Daniel  Oilman  and  Nicholas 
Ferryman  a  committee  to  oppose  the  petition.  They  set  out,  in  a 
lengthy  remonstrance  to  the  assembly,  various  reasons  against 
the  erection  of  a  bridge  ;  the  likelihood  that  it  would  prevent  the 
ascent  of  the  fish,  especially  the  bass,  which  were  represented  as 
abundant ;  the  obstruction  to  the  free  passage  up  and  down  the 
river,  of  mast  trees,  rafts,  gundalows  and  vessels,  and  the  conse- 
quent injury  to  the  navigation  and  ship-building  interest  of  Exeter  ; 
and,  in  fact,  made  the  best  of  a  rather  weak  case.  But  the  Legis- 
lature passed  a  bill  permitting  the  bridge  to  be  built,  under  some 
restrictions.  Various  difficulties  postponed  the  erection  of  it,  and 
more  legislation  was  found  needful ;  among  other  things  a  lottery 
was  legalized  in  aid  of  the  enterprise  ;  and  it  was  not  till  a  quarter 
of  a  century  had  elapsed  that  the  bridge  was  fairly  completed. 


A    DISORDERLY    ELECTION. 

The  demeanor  of  the  people  of  Exeter  at  town  meetings  in  the 
earlier  part  of  the  present  century,  is  said  to  have  been  in  general 
a  pattern  of  decorum.  Every  voter,  for  example,  respectfully 
doffed  his  hat  in  passing  the  moderator  to  deposit  his  ballot.  But 
it  was  not  alwa3'S  so.  At  a  meeting  of  the  town  held  on  the 
twenty-fifth  of  October,  1755,  for  the  choice  of  representatives  in 
the  assembly,  things  were  not  conducted  in  this  orderly  fashion. 
The  long  contest  over  the  question  of  incorporating  a  second 
parish  had  just  ended  in  the  triumph  of  the  seceding  members, 
who  had  procured  an  act  of  the  assembly  freeing  them  from  all 
liability  to  the  old  parish ;  and  it  is  more  than  likely  that  some 
bitterness  of  feeling  was  the  result.  Peter  Oilman  and  John 
Phillips,  two  prominent  partisans  of  the  new  parish,  were  declared 
elected  representatives.  A  remonstrance  was  presented  to  the 
assembly,  against  their  being  allowed  to  take  seats,  upon  the 
ground  of  unfair  practices  in  their  election.     A  hearing  was  had 


78  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

thereon,  at  which  Ephraim  Robinson,  a  prominent  member  of  the 
old  parish,  testified  that  "  when  the  votes  were  numbered  and  the 
person  declared  to  be  chosen,  the  moderator  was  told  the  votes 
were  not  all  brought  in  ;  to  which  he  answered  it  was  too  late  to 
bring  in,  then,  for  the  person  was  chosen.  Then  there  was  a  poll 
desired  by  seven  persons  or  more,  and  it  was  denied.  In  voting 
for  the  second  person,  a  number  of  persons  declared  they  would 
not  vote  till  the  first  vote  was  decided  ;  and  in  voting  for  the  last 
person  there  was  one  vote  changed  after  it  was  put  into  the  hat, 
and  some  more  was  asked  to  be  changed.  And  when  the  second 
person  was  declared  to  be  chosen,  there  was  a  poll  again  demanded 
by  seven  persons  or  more,  but  not  granted.  The  whole  of  the 
meeting  was  carried  on  with  the  greatest  irregularity  and  confu- 
sion, after  the  moderator  was  chosen,  that  ever  I  see  in  any  town 
meeting  before." 

The  Legislature  ordered  the  return  to  be  set  aside  and  a  precept 
to  be  sent  to  the  town  for  a  new  election  ;  at  which  Peter  Oilman 
and  Zebulon  Giddinge  were  chosen. 

For  several  succeeding  years  the  attention  of  the  people  was 
much  occupied  with  the  French  and  Indian  wars,  which,  though 
carried  on  at  a  distance,  yet  demanded  new  military  organizations 
at  home,  every  season.  Exeter  sent  forth  her  annual  quota  of 
combatants,  and  was  substantially  the  headquarters  of  one  or 
more  battalions,  as  will  appear  in  the  chapter  devoted  to  military 
history. 

The  3'ear  1758  was  memorable  for  the  prevalence  in  the  town  of 
that  most  dreaded  scourge,  the  small-pox,  a  legacy,  not  improba- 
bly, of  the  camp.  It  made  such  inroads  among  the  inhabitants 
that  a  town  meeting  was  found  needful,  to  give  authority  to  the 
selectmen  to  take  effectual  measures  for  its  eradication. 


DEMONSTRATION    AGAINST    THE    STAMP    ACT. 

Scarcely  had  tlie  welcome  news  of  peace  with  France  and  her 
savage  allies  been  proclaimed,  before  the  determination  of  England 
to  exact  tribute  from  her  American  colonies  was  manifested,  by 
tlie  passage  of  the  Stamp  Act ;  which  was  rendered  no  more 
agreeable  to  the  people  of  New  Hampshire  by  the  knowledge  that 
it  originated  from  the  suggestion  of  one  of  her  own  sons,  Mr.  John 
Huske.  There  is  no  need  to  repeat  here  the  oft  told  tale  of  the 
mingled  sorrow  and  indignation  with  which  this  injudicious  piece 


HISTORY  OF  KXETEK.  79 

of  legislation  was  universally  received  on  this  side  of  the  water. 
The  feeling  of  the  citizens  of  Exeter  was  well  expressed  by  the 
Rev.  Daniel  Rogers,  pastor  of  the  Second  church,  who  wrote  in 
his  diary  under  date  of  November  1,  17G5,  the  day  when  the  law 
went  into  effect :  "  The  infamous  Stamp  Act,  abhorred  by  all  the 
British  Colonies,  took  place." 

The  fifth  of  the  same  month  used  in  many  places  in  New  Eng- 
land to  be  observed  as  "pope's  day,"  in  commemoration  of  the 
discovery  of  Guy  Fawkes's  gunpowder  plot.  This  year  it  was 
made  the  occasion  of  a  display  of  popular  feeling  in'Exeter  against 
the  Stamp  Act.  Three  effigies,  representing,  according  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Rogers,  the  pope,  the  devil  and  a  stamp  master,  but 
according  to  another  eye  witness,  Lords  North  and  Bute  as  two  of 
the  characters,  were  carried  about  the  streets  of  the  town,  and 
finally  taken  across  the  river,  to  the  front  of  where  the  jail  after- 
wards stood,  and  there  set  fire  to  and  burnt  to  ashes.  We  may 
safely  assume  that  the  exhibition  was  witnessed  by  the  citizens 
with  abundant  tokens  of  approbation. 

The  person  appointed  stamp-distributor  for  New  Hampshire 
was  constrained  by  the  expressions  of  popular  feeling  to  resign  his 
office,  and  consequently  no  stamps  ever  got  into  use.  This  led  to 
the  opinion  on  the  part  of  some  persons,  that  proceedings  in  the 
courts  of  law  could  possess  no  validity,  and  to  fears  that  universal 
license  was  to  rule.  But  the  substantial  citizens  of  Exeter  did  not 
hesitate  to  array  themselves  against  disorder.  They  entered  into 
a  written  engagement  for  mutual  protection  and  defence,  whicli 
they  subscribed  and  published,  in  the  following  terms  : 

Whereas  many  evil  minded  persons  have,  on  account  of  the 
Stamp  Act,  concluded  that  all  the  laws  of  this  province,  and  the 
execution  of  the  same,  are  at  an  end  ;  and  that  crimes  against  the 
public  peace  and  private  property  may  be  committed  with 
impunity,  which  opinion  will  render  it  unsafe  for  the  peace  officers 
to  exert  themselves  in  the  execution  of  their  offices  : 

Therefore  we  the  subscribers,  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Exeter, 
to  prevent,  as  much  as  in  us  lies,  the  evils  naturally  consequent 
upon  such  an  opinion,  and  for  preserving  the  peace  and  good 
order  of  the  community  and  of  our  own  properties,  do  hereby 
combine,  promise  and  engage  to  assemble  ourselves  together  when 
and  where  need  requires,  in  aid  of  the  peace  officers,  and  to  stand 
by  and  defend  them    in  the  execution  of   their  respective  offices, 


80 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


and  each  other  in  our  respective  properties  and  persons,  to  the 
utmost,  against  all  disturbers  of  the  public  peace  and  invaders  of 
private  property. 

Witness  our  hands  at  Exeter  this  15"^  day  of  November  A.  D. 
1765. 


John  Bellamy 
Theodore  Carleton 
Eliphalet  Coffin 
Peter  Coffin 
John  Dudley 
Noah  Emery 
Nathaniel  Folsom 
Samuel  Folsom 
Trueworthy  Folsom 
John  Giddiuge 
Bartholomew  Oilman 
Daniel  Oilman 


John  Ward  Oilman 
Josiah  Oilman 
Josiah  Oilman  ter. 
Nicholas  Oilman 
Peter  Oilman 
Samuel  Oilman 
Samuel  Oilman  4*1* 
John  Hall 
John  Lanison 
John  Nelson 
Thomas  Odiorne 
AVinthrop  Odlin 


Thomas  Parsons 
Benjamin  Philbrick 
John  Phillips 
Enoch  Poor 
John  Rice 
Charles  Rundlet 
Theophilus  Smith 
Joseph  SAvasey 
Daniel  Tilton 
Jacob  Tiltou  * 


PATRIOTIC    ACTION    OF    THE    TOWN    IN  1770. 

The  following  year  the  Stamp  Act  was  repealed,  to  the  great 
joy  and  gratitude  of  the  colonists.  But  England  insisted  on  her 
claim  of  right  to  tax  the  Americans  without  their  consent,  and 
imposed  a  duty  on  the  importation  of  tea  and  a  few  other  articles 
into  the  provinces.  This  renewed  the  irritation  among  the  col- 
onists, which,  however,  did  not  fairly  break  forth  into  open  expres- 
sion until  the  intelligence  of  the  "  Boston  massacre,"  March  5, 
1770.  Twelve  days  after  that  tragical  occurrence  a  meeting  of 
the  town  of  Exeter  was  called,  upon  a  petition  of  a  number  of  the 
inhabitants,  to  act  upon  the  following  articles  : 

1.  To  see  whether  the  town  will  pass  any  vote  for  the  encour- 
agement of  the  produce  and  manufactures  of  this  country. 

2.  To  see  whether  they  will  pass  any  vote  or  votes  to  discoun- 
tenance the  importation  and  consumption  of  unnecessary  and 
superfluous  foreign  articles  ;  and  very  particularly,  as  the  duty  on 
Tea  furnishes  so  enormous  a  sum  towards  the  support  of  a  set  of 
miscreants  who  devour  the  fruits  of  our  honest  industry,  and  [are] 
justly  deemed  the  bane  of  this  countr}^,  to  see  if  the  town  will  pass 
a  vote  not  to  make  use  of  any  foreign  tea,  and  use  their  influence 
to  prevent  the  consumption  of  it  in  their  respective  families,  till 
the  duty  is  taken  off. 


*Two  copies  of  this  agreement  have  been  found,  diHei'ing  slightly  in  the  names  of 
the  subscribers.    All  the  names  upon  each  are  here  retained. 


HISTOllY  OF  EXETER.  81 

3.  To  see  if  the  town  will  inquire,  or  choose  a  committee  to 
inquire,  of  the  representatives  of  this  town,  what  legal  and  consti- 
tutional measures  have  been  taken  by  the  General  Assembly  of 
this  province  for  the  redress  of  our  grievances,  in  order  to  know 
what,  or  whether  any  measures  ma}'  now  be  advisable  to  be  pro- 
moted by  them,  and  if  any  measures  be  advisable,  to  give  tlieir 
Representatives  [instructions]  to  be  by  them  observed,  at  their 
next  session. 


At  the  meeting  of  the  town,  held  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  March, 
1770,  the  vote  for  the  encouragement  of  the  produce  and  manu- 
factures of  this  country  passed  in  the  affirmative,  as  did  also  that 
to  discountenance  the  importation  and  consumption  of  unnecessary 
and  superfluous  articles.  The  town  also  resolved  not  to  make  use 
of  any  foreign  tea,  but  to  exert  their  influence  to  prevent  the  con- 
sumption of  it  in  their  respective  families,  till  the  duty  should  be 
taken  off.  Upon  the  article  relative  to  the  inquiry  and  instruction 
of  the  representatives,  a  committee  was  appointed,  consisting  of 
Nathaniel  Folsom,  John  Phillips,  Nicholas  Oilman,  Samuel 
Folsora,  Joseph  Gilman  and  Enoch  Poor. 

The  meeting  was  then  adjourned  to  the  succeeding  second  of 
April,  on  which  day  the  committee  made  their  report,  at  consider- 
able length.  The  substance  of  it  was,  that  the  General  Assembly 
of  this  province  had  authorized  a  letter  to  be  prepared  and  signed 
by  their  Speaker,  addressed  to  their  agent  at  the  Court  of  Great 
Britain,  to  be  presented  to  the  king,  expressing  then-  hearty  con- 
currence with  the  patriotic  sentiments  contained  in  a  communica- 
tion received  from  the  house  of  Burgesses  of  Virginia ;  that  the 
proposed  letter  was  drafted  and  sent  to  the  Speaker  (Peter 
Gilman)  at  Exeter,  for  his  signature,  but  as  it  did  not  express  his 
personal  views,  he  failed  to  subscribe  it,  wherefore  it  was  not 
transmitted  to  England  seasonably  to  co-operate  with  the  petitions 
from  the  other  colonies;  and  "■  that  our  American  brethren  may 
not  construe  it  as  deserting  their  interest  upon  any  ungenerous 
separate  views,  we  therefore  give  it  as  our  instruction  to  the  rep- 
resentatives of  this  town  to  use  their  influence  in  the  House  to 
promote  a  more  public  demonstration  of  their  being  governed  by 
those  noble,  patriotic  and  loyal  principles  in  which  they  have  so 
happily  harmonized  with  the  other  provinces,  and,  particularly, 
that  an  address  to  his  majesty  for  redress  of  grievances,  may 
(though  late)  be  forthwith  transmitted  without  further  loss  of 
time." 

6 


82  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

The  representatives  were  also  instructed  to  expedite  the  act  for 
dividing  the  province  into  counties. 

The  report  of  the  committee  was  adopted  by  the  town. 

The  facts  of  the  case  were  that  Peter  Gihnan,  who  was  tlien, 
perhaps,  the  foremost  citizen  of  the  town,  and  had  occupied  the 
Speaker's  chair  in  the  General  Assembly  for  a  number  of  years, 
was  opposed  to  measures  looking  to  resistance  to  the  Crown  of 
England.  He  had  received  honors  and  emoluments  from  the  royal 
governors,  had  repeatedly  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance  in  his 
official  capacity,  had  nothing  to  gain,  but  much  tliat  might  be  lost 
by  a  change  of  government,  and  had  arrived  at  a  period  of  life 
when  a  man  becomes  conservative  and  averse  to  radical  measures. 
It  is  only  fair  to  say,  however,  that  in  compliance  with  the  evident 
will  of  his  constituents  he  soon  after  set  his  signature  to  the  letter 
referred  to  ;  and  though  it  was  well  known  that  he  disapproved  of 
the  measures  of  the  Revolution,  yet  he  remained  at  his  home,  unmo- 
lested, throughout  the  war  that  followed,  and  apparently  retained 
the  respect  of  his  townsmen,  though  they,  with  scarce  an  excep- 
tion, were  whigs  of  the  most  determined  character.  In  1771,  when 
he  ceased  to  be  a  member  of  the  assembly,  the  town  gave  hun 
a  vote  of  thanks  for  his  past  services  as  their  representative. 

The  law  for  dividing  the  province  into  counties,  a  long  delayed 
act  of  justice  to  the  people,  went  into  effect  in  1771.  By  its  pro- 
visions certain  terms  of  the  courts  were  to  be  held  in  Exeter,  and 
it  was  proposed  that  the  town  should  furnish  a  suitable  site  for  a 
county  court-house.  The  open  space  in  front  of  the  present  town- 
house,  was  then  disfigured  by  a  pound  and  several  small  buildings, 
erected  in  the  midst  of  it.  At  a  meeting  of  the  town  held  July  8, 
1771,  it  was  voted  "to  grant  liberty  for  a  county  court-house  to 
be  built  on  the  land  on  which  the  pound  and  the  shops  belonging 
to  Dr.  Josiah  Oilman,  John  Ward  Gihnan,  Samuel  Gilnian  and 
Samuel  Folsom  now  stand,"  and  that  the  land  should  be  cleared  of 
all  incumbrances  whatsoever.  It  was  some  years,  however,  before 
the  court-house  was  erected,  and  in  the  meantime  the  courts  were 
held  in  the  town-house,  which  stood  nearly  opposite  the  First 
church.  The  earliest  session  of  the  Superior  Court  in  the  town 
was  held  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  September,  1771. 

In  the  year  1771  was  built,  at  the  expense  of  the  town,  the 
brick  powder-house,  near  the  first  point  on  the  eastern  side  of  the 
salt  river.  Whether  this  was  done  in  anticipation  of  the  armed 
struggle  that  was  soon  to  follow,  we  cannot  tell.     It  is  probable, 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  83 

however,  that  it  became  the  storehouse  in  that  war,  and  perhaps 
in  subsequent  wars,  of  "  the  town's  stock  of  powder."  The  quaint 
little  structure  is  one  of  the  links  that  connect  us  with  the  past, 
and  should  not  be  suffered  to  go  to  decay. 

ANOTHER    PATRIOTIC    EXPRESSION    OF    THE    TOWN. 

Political  affairs  were  now  gradually  but  surely  tending  towards 
a  wider  separation  of  the  colonies  from  the  mother  country.  The 
British  Parliament,  with  a  perverse  misunderstanding  of  the  temper 
of  our  people,  persisted  in  retaining  the  duty  on  tea  imported  into 
the  colonies,  as  a  token  of  their  right  to  impose  taxes  on  them 
without  their  consent.  It  was  the  fly  in  the  ointment.  The  Ameri- 
cans, who  had  previously  been  liberal  consumers  of  tea,  would 
have  no  more  of  it.  And  when  the  attempt  was  made  to  force  it 
upon  them,  the  sons  of  liberty  of  Boston  boarded  the  vessels  laden 
with  the  detested  herb,  and  flung  their  cargoes  into  the  sea. 

Thereupon,  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  the  same  December  a  meeting 
of  the  citizens  of  Exeter  was  called  for  an  expression  of  opinion 
in  the  premises;  and  was  held  on  the  third  of  January,  1774. 
Nathaniel  Folsomwas  chosen  moderator.  The  action  of  the  voters 
is  thus  described  : 

The  meeting  proceeded  to  take  into  consideration  the  rise  of  the 
present  general  uneasiness  through  the  continent,  which  appears 
to  them  to  be  fairly,  as  well  as  briefly,  stated  by  the  honorable  his 
majesty's  council  of  the  province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  in  their 
late  advice  to  their  governor.  It  was  then  moved  [and]  ruled  that 
a  number  present  draw  up  what  they  conceive  to  be  the  general 
sense  of  the  meeting  upon  the  matter  under  consideration,  who, 
having  consulted  together,  report  that  the}'  apprehend  the  sense  of 
this  town  cannot  be  better  expressed  than  by  adopting  the  resolves 
of  the  patriotic  citizens  of  Phihidelphia,  which  are  as  follows,  viz.  : 

Resolved^  Tliat  the  disposal  of  their  own  property  is  the  inher- 
ent right  of  freemen  ;  that  there  can  be  no  properly  in  that  which 
another  can,  of  right,  take  from  us  without  our  consent ;  that  the 
claim  of  Parliament  to  tax  America  is,  in  otlier  woi'ds,  a  claim  of 
right  to  levy  eontrilmtions  on  us  at  pleasure. 

2.  That  the  duty  imposed  by  Parliament  upon  tea  landed  in 
America,  is  a  tax  on  the  Americans,  or  levying  contribution  on 
them  without  their  consent. 

3.  That  the  express  purpose  for  which  the  tax  is  levied  on  the 
Americans,  namely,  for  the  support  of  government,  the  adminis- 
tration of  justice  aud  the  defence  of  his  majesty's  dominions  in 


84  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

America,  has  a  direct  tendency  to  render  assemblies  useless,  and 
to  introduce  arbitrary  governmeut  and  slav-ery. 

4.  Tliat  a  virtuous  and  steady  opposition  to  this  ministerial  plan 
of  governing  America,  is  absolutely  necessary  to  preserve  even 
the  shadow  of  libert}',  and  is  a  duty  which  every  freeman  in 
America  owes  to  his  country,  to  himself  and  to  his  posterity. 

5.  That  the  resolution  lately  come  into  by  the  East  India  Com- 
pany to  send  out  their  tea  to  America  subject  to  the  payment  of 
duties  on  its  being  landed  here,  is  an  open  attempt  to  enforce  the 
ministerial  plan,  and  a  violent  attack  upon  tlie  liberties  of  America. 

6.  That  it  is  the  duty  of  every  American  to  oppose  this  attempt. 

7.  That  whoever  shall  directly  or  indirectly  countenance  this 
attempt  or  in  any  wise  aid  or  abet  in  unloading,  receiving  or 
vending  the  tea  sent  or  to  be  sent  out  by  the  East  India  Company 
while  it  remains  subject  to  the  payment  of  a  duty  here,  is  an 
enemy  to  America. 

The  foregoing  resolves,  after  having  been  repeatedly  read, 
passed  almost  unanimously. 

Further  Resolved,  That  we  are  ready  on  all  necessary  occasions 
to  risk  our  lives  and  fortunes  in  defence  of  our  rights  and  liber- 
ties, professing  to  have  as  great  a  veneration  for  freedom  as  any 
people  on  earth. 

Voted,  That  this  town  do  return  their  sincere  thanks  to  all  the 
cities,  towns  and  persons  in  America  who  have  at  any  time  nobly 
exerted  themselves  in  the  cause  of  liberty. 

Voted,  That  John  Phillips,  Esq.,  John  Giddinge,  Esq.,  Col. 
Nicholas  Gilman,  Mr.  Samuel  Brooks  and  Mr.  Joseph  Gihnan, 
they  or  any  three  of  them,  be  a  committee  to  correspond  with  the 
committee  of  Portsmouth,  and  any  and  all  other  committees,  in 
this  or  the  neighboring  governments,  as  they  may  see  occasion  ; 
and  that  they  cause  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting  to  be  pub- 
lished in  the  New  Hampshire  Gazette  as  soon  as  may  be. 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  wait  on  the 
dealers  in  teas  in  this  town,  and  desire  them  to  desist  from  pur- 
chasing any  moi'e  teas,  until  the  duty  thereon  is  taken  off. 

Upon  the  eigliteenth  of  July  the  town  chose  as  deputies  to  the 
first  Provincial  Congress,  John  Giddinge,  Theophilus  Gilman, 
Nathaniel  Folsom,  John  Phillips  and  Samuel  Gilman,  with  power 
to  them  or  any  three  of  them  to  join  in  choosing  delegates  to  the 
Continental  Congress  ;  and  voted  that  ten  pounds,  lawful  money, 
should  be  paid  by  the  selectmen  towards  defraying  the  expenses  of 
sucli  delegates.  The  Provincial  Congress  met  on  the  twenty-first 
of  July  at  Exeter,  and  chose  Nathaniel  Folsom  of  Exeter,  and 
John  Sullivan  delegates  to  the  Continental  Congress. 


HISTOllY  OF  EXETER.  85 

HELP    FOR    THE    SUFFERING    POOR    OF    BOSTON. 

The  next  step  taken  by  Great  Britain  towards  effectually  alienat- 
ing her  American  subjects,  was  the  passage  of  the  Boston  port 
bill.  This  measure  put  an  end  to  all  commerce  and  nearly  all 
business  in  the  principal  town  of  New  England,  and  as  a  matter  of 
course,  caused  great  distress  to  the  laboring  class  there,  whom  it 
threw  out  of  employment.  The  warmest  s^nnpathy  was  expressed 
fi'om  all  quarters  with  the  oppressed  inhabitants  of  Boston. 

In  Exeter  a  town  meeting  was  called  to  take  into  consideration 
"  the  distressing  cu'cumstances  of  the  town  of  Boston,  occasioned 
by  a  cruel  and  arbitrary  act  of  the  British  Parliament  in  blocking 
up  their  harbor,"  and  to  pass  a  vote  to  raise  money  for  the  relief 
of  the  industrious  suffering  poor  of  said  town. 

At  the  meeting  held  October  31,  1774,  it  was  resolved  to  raise 
by  taxation  one  hundred  pounds,  lawful  money,  for  the  suffering 
poor  of  Boston  ;  with  the  proviso  that  ' '  if  any  person  or  persons 
shall  be  against  paying  their  proportion  of  the  tax,  if  they  enter 
their  names  with  the  clerk  within  ten  days,  they  shall  be  exempted 
from  paying  anything  of  said  tax." 

The  assessment  of  this  sum  is  set  forth  on  the  town  books,  and 
to  the  credit  of  our  fathers  it  may  be  said  that  few,  if  any,  appear 
to  have  taken  advantage  of  the  clause  of  exemption.  The  full 
amount  was  promptly  collected  and  paid  over  to  the  authorities  of 
the  town  of  Boston. 

The  following  correspondence  respecting  the  gift,  is  worth}'  of 
preservation. 

LETTER    FROM    EXETER    TO    THE    COMMITTEE    OF    BOSTON. 

Gentlemen, 

It  gives  us  peculiar  satisfaction  that  we  are  the  happy  instruments 
of  conveying  relief  to  the  distressed.  We  send  you  by  the  bearer 
hereof  Mr.  Carlton,  one  hundred  pounds,  which  sum  was  unani- 
mously and  cheerfully  voted  by  this  town  for  our  suffering 
brethren  in  Boston.  The  cause  for  which  you  now  suffer  we 
esteem  the  common  cause  of  all  America ;  your  prudence  and 
fortitude  we  admire.  That  you  may  be  assisted  by  all  the  colonies 
in  the  present  glorious  struggle  for  liberty,  and  endued  with 
wisdom  and  patience  to  persevere  to  the  end  is  the  desire  and 
hearty  prayer  of  your  sincere  friends. 

I  have  the  honor.  Gentlemen,  in  behalf  of  the  selectmen  of  Exe- 
ter, to  subscribe  myself  your  most  humble  servant, 

Samuel  Brooks. 
New  Hampshire,  Exeter,  6th  February,  1775. 


86  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

REPLY    TO    EXETEK. 

Boston,  February  8,  177.5. 
Sir, 

Our  worthy  friend  Mr.  Carlton  has  just  now  called  in  and 
left  with  me  one  hundred  pounds,  lawful  money,  a  generous  dona- 
tion from  the  patriotic  inhabitants  of  Exeter  for  their  suffering 
brethren  in  Boston.  You  will  please  to  tender  the  thanks  of  the 
Committee  of  Donations  to  our  kind  benefactors  for  this  mark  of 
their  Christian  sympathy  and  affection.  The  approbation  of  the 
past  conduct  of  this  greatly  oppressed  and  distressed  metropolis 
affords  us  great  satisfaction,  but  especially  the  tender  and  benevo- 
lent sentiments  expressed  in  your  letter.  Prudence  and  fortitude 
have  doubtless  been  exhibited,  but  humility  becomes  us,  and  our 
thankful  acknowledgements  are  due  to  God,  from  whom  alone 
every  good  gift  and  every  perfect  gift  is  derived,  and  on  Him  alone 
we  must  constantly  depend  for  all  that  wisdom,  patience  and  forti- 
tude, Ave  need  in  this  day  of  sore  trial.  By  his  help  and  favor  we 
shall  persevere,  and  in  the  end  see  the  happy  accomplishment  of 
all  our  desires.  We  hope  for  the  continuance  of  the  prayers, 
countenance  and  assistance  of  our  friends.  We  cannot  doubt  it 
since  they  unitedl}^  consider  the  cause  as  common. 

Yours  and  others',  our  friends'  donations  will  be  applied  agreea- 
ble to  the  intent  of  the  charitable  donors.  Printed  accounts  of  the 
conduct  of  the  Committee  are  now  inclosed,  and  I  trust  will  give 
satisfaction  to  all  tlie  friends  of  truth  and  righteousness. 

I  am,  sir,  your  obliged  friend  and  humble  servant, 

David  Jeffries. 
Per  order  of  the  Committee  of  Donations. 
To  Samuel  Brooks,  Esq. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  town  December  26,  1774,  it  was  voted  to 
adopt  the  association  agreement  determined  upon  by  the  Continen- 
tal Congress,  and  by  them  recommended  to  the  British  colonies, 
commonly  known  as  the  non-importation  agreement ;  and  the 
following  persons  were  chosen  to  see  that  the  agreement  be  strictly 
adhered  to,  viz.  :  Daniel  Tilton,  Thomas  Odiorne,  Theophilus 
Oilman,  William  Parker,  John  P2mery,  Nicholas  Oilman,  Nathan- 
iel Folsom,  Theodore  Carleton,  P^noch  Poor,  Theophilus  Smith, 
Thomas  Folsom,  Peter  Coffin,  Samuel  Folsom,  Joseph  Oilman, 
James  Hackett,  John  Oiddinge,  Josiah  Oilman,  Eliphalet  Hale, 
Josiah  Robinson,  Josiah  Barker,  Nathaniel  Oorclon,  Ephraim 
Robinson  and  Samuel  Brooks. 

We  have  information  (though  the  record  fails  to  show  it) ,  that 
at  the  same  meeting  a  resolution  was  adopted  against  the  intrusion 
of  pedlers,  hawkers  and  petty  chapmen,  who  obviously  could  deal 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  87 

in  the  forbidden  commodities  with  little  danger  of  detection.  The 
popular  sentiment  against  violations  of  the  non-importation  agree- 
ment was  plainly  expressed  in  a  published  letter  of  the  time 
written  from  Exeter,  that  if  this  vote  of  the  town  and  the  law  of 
the  province  should  be  ineffectual  to  prevent  them,  "it  is  the 
opinion  of  many  that  an  experiment  ought  to  be  made  of  Tar  and 
Feathers  !" 

At  the  same  meeting  the  following  persons  were  chosen  deputies 
to  represent  the  town  in  the  (second)  Provincial  Congress  held  in 
Exeter  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  January,  1775  :  Nathaniel  Folsom, 
Theophilus  Gilman,  Nicholas  Gilman,  William  Parker  and  John 
Giddinge.  By  that  congress  John  Sullivan  and  John  Langdon 
were  elected  delegates  to  the  Continental  Congress. 

Throughout  the  year  events  were  hurrying  on  to  a  crisis.  Three 
other  congresses  of  the  province  assembled  in  Exeter  in  1775. 
The  first  of  these  met  on  the  twenty-first  of  April.  Exeter  was 
represented  in  it  by  Nathaniel  Folsom,  Nicholas  Gilman,  John 
Giddinge,  Theophilus  Gilman  and  p]noch  Poor.  On  the  seven- 
teenth of  May  another  like  convention  of  deputies  of  the  people 
opened  its  session.  The  delegates  of  the  town  were  Nathaniel 
Folsom,  Nicholas  Gilman  and  Enoch  Poor  ;  but  when  the  first  and 
last  of  these  were  summoned  into  the  military  service,  a  new  elec- 
tion was  held  June  26,  to  supply  their  places.  John  Giddinge  and 
Theophilus  Gilman  were  chosen.  The  latter  desired  to  be  excused, 
because  he  was  elected  "  against  his  consent,"  and  Noah  Emery, 
and  afterwards  Samuel  Brooks  were  selected  "  to  serve  six  months, 
if  necessary." 

This  body  was  kept  alive,  by  repeated  adjournments,  till  the 
fifteenth  of  November,  and  in  its  recesses  the  provincial  committee 
of  safety  was  in  continual  session,  in  Exeter. 

It  was  from  this  Congress,  it  is  alleged,  that  the  earliest  official 
suggestion  of  national  independence  emanated.  Matthew  Thorn- 
ton, its  president,  in  a  "  noble  letter"  to  the  Continental  Congress 
at  Philadelphia,  bearing  date  May  23,  1775,  held  this  language  : 

We  will  not  conceal  that  many  among  us  are  disposed  to 
conclude,  that  the  voice  of  God  and  Nature  to  us,  since  the  late 
hostile  design  and  conduct  of  Great  Britain,  is,  that  we  are  bound 
to  look  to  otir  whole  jpolitical  affairs. 

THE    CENSUS    OF    1775. 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  August,  1775,  the  Provincial  Congress 
recommended  to  the  selectmen  of  the  several  towns  and  places  in 


88 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


the  colony,  to  take  the  exact  number  of  all  the  Inhabitants  therein, 
and  make  return  of  the  same  in  several  columns  as  specified  ;  and 
also  to  report  the  number  of  fire-arms  and  the  stock  of  powder  in 
each  place. 

The  return  made  by  the  selectmen  of  Exeter  was  as  follows  : 


Males  under  16  years  of  age 
Males  from  16  years  to  50  not  in  the  army 
All  males  above  50  years  of  age 
Persons  gone  in  the  army 


401 
273 

86 

51 
892 

38 
193 
150 

801  lbs. 

50    lbs. 

Selectmen 
of 
Exeter. 


All  females 

Negroes  and  slaves  for  life 

Fire  arms 

Fire  arms  wanting 

Powder 

Town  stock  of  powder 

Samuel  Brooks 

Theodore  Carleton 

Peter  Coffin  Jun. 

Eph"  Robinson 

6  October  1775,  Sworn  to  before  Zaccheus  Clough,  Just.  Peace. 

THE    earliest   WRITTEN    CONSTITUTION. 

The  authority  of  the  king's  officers  having  come  to  an  end, 
the  need  of  a  regular  and  stable  system  of  government  in  New 
Hampshire  had  now  become  so  urgent,  that  in  October  the 
province  made  application  to  the  Continental  Congress  for  advice 
and  direction  what  course  they  ought  to  adopt.  The  answer  of  the 
Congress,  given  in  November,  was  a  recommendation  in  substance 
that  a  full  and  free  representation  of  the  people  should  be  called, 
to  establish,  if  thought  necessary,  a  form  of  government  such  as 
should  best  promote  the  welfare  of  the  province,  during  the  contin- 
uance of  the  dispute  with  Great  Britain. 

In  pursuance  of  this  advice  a  fifth  Provincial  Congress  was 
summoned,  to  be  composed  of  persons  having  real  estate  in  the 
province  to  the  value  of  five  hundred  pounds  each,  to  meet  at  Exe- 
ter on  the  twenty-first  day  of  December,  and  to  serve  for  one 
year,  to  transact  such  business  and  pursue  such  measures  as  they 
might  judge  necessary  for  the  public  good ;  and  in  case  there 
should  be  a  recommendation  from  the  Continental  Congress  that 
the  colony  assume  government  in  any  particular  form,  which  would 
require  a  House  of  Representatives,  to  resolve  themselves  into  such 
a  House  as  the  Continental  Congress  should  recommend. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  89 

John  Giddiuge  and  Noah  Emery  were  selected  as  delegates  of 
Exeter,  without  specific  instructions. 

This  last  provincial  representation  of  New  Hampshire  came 
together  on  the  day  appointed,  and  spent  the  first  two  weeks  of 
their  session  in  disposing  of  preliminary  matters,  in  order  that  time 
might  be  allowed  for  deliberate  consideration  before  acting  upon 
the  momentous  question  of  "  taking  up  government,"  as  the  phrase 
of  the  day  was. 

Then,  everything  being  made  ready,  on  the  fifth  day  of  Janu- 
ary, 1776,  the  delegates,  in  pursuance  of  the  powers  committed  to 
them  by  their  constituents,  resolved  themselves  into  a  House  of 
Eepresentatives  ;  adopted  a  written  Constitution,  the  first  of 
EITHER  OF  the  United  States  ;  elected  under  it  the  needful  legis- 
lative, judicial  and  executive  officers  ;  and  thus  New  Hampshire 
became,  in  effect,  free  and  independent  of  the  British  Crown. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

EXETER  UNDER  THE  STATE  GOVERNMENT. 

The  Coustitution  adopted  b}^  New  Hampshire  in  the  early  part 
of  1776,  though  in  some  respects  imperfect,  as  might  naturally 
have  been  expected,  being  the  first  of  its  kind,  yet  served  the 
purposes  of  the  people  sufficiently  well  until  it  was  superseded  by 
a  more  complete  instrument,  framed  al)out  the  close  of  the  Kevo- 
lution. 

Exeter,  by  the  census  of  1775,  containing  seventeen  hundred 
and  forty-one  inhabitants,  had  become  practically  the  capital  of 
the  State,  the  seat  of  government,  and  the  centre  of  all  civil  and 
military  activity  in  New  Hampshire. 

There  is  little  upon  the  records  of  the  town  to  show  that  the 
people  had  become  sovereign,  except  that  new  safeguards  were  set 
up  against  the  selection  of  unsuitable  persons  for  public  office. 
The  members  of  the  council,  for  example,  were  required  to  be 
respectable  freeholders,  and  no  man  could  sit  in  either  house  of 
the  Legislature  who  had  treated  electors  with  liquor  to  gain  their 
votes.  The  people  evidently  valued  at  its  true  worth  the  privilege 
of  governing  themselves,  which  they  were  paying  so  heavy  a  price 
to  secure. 

THE    ASSOCIATION    TEST    OF    1776. 

The  Continental  Congress  resolved  on  the  fourteenth  of  March, 
1776,  to  recommend  to  the  several  Assemblies  or  Committees  of 
Safety  of  the  United  Colonies  immediately  to  cause  to  be  disarmed 
all  persons  within  their  respective  colonies  who  were  notoriously 
disaffected  to  the  cause  of  America,  or  who  refused  to  associate  to 
defend  by  arms  the  United  Colonies  against  the  hostile  attempts 
of  the  British  fleets  and  armies. 

The  Committee  of  Safety  of  New  Hampshire  in  order  to  carry 
this  resolve  into  execution,  on  the  twelfth  of  April,  1776,  sent 
circulars  to  the  selectmen  of  the  several  towns  and  places  in  the 

90 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


91 


colony,  requesting  them  to  desire  all  males  above  twentj'-one  yenvs 
of  age  (lunatics,  idiots  and  negroes  excepted)  to  sign  the  following 
declaration,  and,  wlieu  that  should  be  done,  to  make  return  thereof 
together  with  the  names  of  all  who  should  refuse  to  sign  the  same, 
to  the  General  Assembly  or  Committee  of  Safety  of  the  colony. 
The  declaration  was  in  these  words  : 

We  the  subscribers  do  hereby  solemnly  engage  and  promise  that 
we  will,  to  the  utmost  of  our  power,  at  the  rislv  of  our  lives  and 
fortunes,  with  arms  oppose  the  hostile  proceedings  of  the  British 
fleets  and  armies  against  the  United  American  Colonies. 

It  is  a  matter  of  deep  regret  that  the  complete  return  from  Exe- 
ter has  not  been  preserved.  At  least  three  hundred  names,  and 
probably  more,  must  have  been  reported,  for  or  against  the  patri- 
otic declaration,  but  all  except  those  upon  a  single  sheet,  forty- 
eight  only,  are  lost.  The  names  preserved  are  here  given.  From 
what  is  known  of  the  sentiments  of  the  voters  of  the  town  it  is 
believed  that  the  number  of  those  refusing  to  sign  might  be 
counted  on  the  fingers  of  one  hand,  with  some  to  spare. 


Josiah  Beal 
John  Bond 
John  Cartee 
Benjamin  Cram 
Stephen  [Creighton?] 
Thomas  Dolloff 
Noah  Emery 
Gerould  Fitz  Gerould. 
Josiah  Folsom 
Bartholomew  Gale 
Eliphalet  Giddinge 
John  Giddinge 
John  Giddinge,  Jr. 
David  Gilman 
Joseph  Gilman 
Josiah  Gilman,  Jr. 


Samuel  Folsom  Gilman 
Zehulon  Gilman 
Nathaniel  Gordon 
Daniel  Grant 
Samuel  Harris 
Jonathan  Hopkinson 
Kinsley  H.  James 
Benjamin  Kimball 
Robert  Kimball 
Edward  Ladd 
Joseph  Lamson 
Samuel  Lamson 
Kobert  Lord 
Thomas  Lyford 
Benjamin'  Morse 
Habertus  Neale 


William  Odlin 
John  Patten 
Samuel  Quimby 
Jos.  Rollins 
David  Smith 
Theophilus  Smith 
Joseph  Stacey 
Benjamin  Swasey 
Joseph  Swasey 
Joseph  Thing 
Stephen  Thing 
Winthrop  Thing 
Thomas  Tyler 
Dudley  Watson 
Josiah  Weeks 
Josiah  Wyatt 


FIRST    READING    OF    THE    DECLARATION    OF    INDEPENDENCE. 


A  little  more  than  seven  months  after  New  Hampshire  had 
"taken  up  government,"  a  scene  was  witnessed  in  Exeter  which 
is  worthy  of  a  brief  description. 


92  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Hostilities  had  been  waged  between  Great  Britain  and  the 
United  Colonies  for  more  than  a  year,  and  the  foolish  obstinacy  of 
the  king  forbade  all  hopes  of  reconciliation  on  terms  that  Ameri- 
cans conld  submit  to  without  disgrace.  Even  the  conservative  and 
the  timid  had  begun  to  think  of  "  independency  "  as  something 
within  the  range  of  possibilit}',  while  the  ardent  sons  of  liberty 
chafed  at  the  delay  in  shaking  off  the  yoke  of  allegiance  to  the 
mother  country.  We  have  already  seen  that  the  subject  had  been 
mooted  long  before  in  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New  Hampshire. 

The  leading  men  of  Exeter  and  of  the  State  government  were 
fully  prepared,  and  even  anxious,  for  the  final  step  of  separation. 
Both  houses  of  the  Legislature  had  united  in  instructions  "  to  our 
delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress  to  join  with  the  other  colo- 
nies in  declaring  the  thirteen  United  Colonies  free  and  independent 
States  ;  solemnly  pledging  our  faith  and  honor  that  we  will  on  our 
parts  support  the  measure  with  our  lives  and  fortunes." 

From  this  time  forward  all  was  impatience  in  Exeter  to  learn  the 
action  of  the  Continental  Congress  on  the  momentous  question. 
At  length,  on  the  eighteenth  day  of  July,  1776,  the  wished  for 
news  arrived.  A  courier  rode  into  the  village,  bringing  with  him 
a  jDacket  addressed  to  the  chief  executive  of  New  Hampshire, 
containing  the  immortal  Declaration  of  American  Independence, 
under  the  authentication  of  John  Hancock,  president  of  Congress. 

As  soon  as  its  contents  were  ascertained,  it  was  determined  that 
the  paper  should  be  publicly  read  to  the  citizens,  forthwith.  The 
Legislature  had  adjourned,  but  the  Committee  of  Safety  were  in 
session.  The  tidings  circulated  through  the  town  with  lightniuo- 
rapidity.  Men,  women  and  children  dropped  their  employments, 
and  gathered  about  the  court-house,  to  listen  to  the  words  that 
made  them  free. 

John  Taylor  Gilman  was  chosen  for  the  signal  honor  of  reading 
for  the  first  time  in  the  capital  of  the  State,  the  charter  of  Ameri- 
can freedom.  Prominent  among  his  hearers  were  Meshech  Weare, 
the  President  of  the  State,  Matthew  Thornton,  who  was  hunself  a 
few  months  later  to  set  his  hand  to  the  Declaration,  General 
Nathaniel  Folsom,  Colonel  Pierse  Long  and  Dr.  Ebenezer  Thomp- 
son, all  sterling  patriots  and  members  of  the  Committee  of  Safety. 
There  too  was  Colonel  Nicholas  Gilman,  the  New  Hampshire 
financier  of  the  Revolution  and  the  right  hand  of  the  executive. 
He  had  ardently  longed  for  the  time  when  independence  should 
be  proclaimed,  and  now  he  was  to  hear,  from  the  lips  of  his  son, 
that  the  hour  had  struck. 


HISTOEY  OF  EXETER.  i)P, 

As  soon  as  liis  hastily  gathered  audience  had  assembled,  the 
youthful  reader  began  his  grateful  task.  We  can  imagine  with 
what  bated  breath  all  listened  for  the  first  time  to  that  impressive 
statement  of  the  causes  which  led  America  to  take  up  arms.  The 
clear  tones  in  which  the  eloquent  periods  were  enunciated  never 
faltered,  until  the  masterly  climax  was  reached,  when  the  rush  of 
patriotic  feeling  became  too  great  for  speech,  and  for  a  moment 
the  reader  was  compelled  to  pause,  to  regain  the  power  of  utter- 
ance. 

Often  as  the  charter  of  our  liberties  has  been  since  repeated  in 
Exeter,  in  times  of  national  trial  and  of  national  prosperity,  it  was 
never  listened  to  with  more  devout  thankfulness,  greater  faith,  or 
more  honest  pride  than  on  this,  its  first  reading. 

THE    EVILS    OF    A    PAPEIl    CUUKEXCY. 

The  colonies  committed  the  often  repeated  mistake  of  attempt- 
ing to  carry  on  a  war  by  means  of  l>ills  of  credit.  The  result  was 
a  rapid  inflation  of  the  prices  of  all  the  necessaries  of  life,  which 
the  people  vainly  attempted  to  control,  by  legislation. 

On  May  5,  1777,  a  meeting  of  the  town  was  called  "  to  regulate 
and  affix  the  prices  of  goods  and  other  articles,  for  said  town,  and 
to  do  and  act  in  all  affairs  agreeable  to  the  directions  of  an  act  of 
this  State  passed  the  tenth  day  of  April  last."  The  follovv-ing 
persons  were  chosen  a  committee  to  make  report  upon  said  matters  : 
Eliphalet  Hale,  Josiah  Barker,  David  Fogg,  Samuel  Folsom, 
Joseph  Lamson,  Josiah  Oilman,  Peter  Coffin  and  Samuel  Brooks. 
No  report  of  their  doings  is  upon  record,  but  it  is  safe  to  say  that 
any  plan  they  could  have  devised,  short  of  a  complete  change  of 
the  circulating  medium,  would  have  been  inadequate  to  relieve  the 
financial  troubles  of  the  time. 

On  May  11,  1778,  the  town  chose  Nathaniel  Folsom,  Samuel 
Hobart  and  John  Pickering  delegates  to  the  convention  to  be  held 
at  Concord  on  the  tenth  of  June  following,  to  form  a  permanent 
plan  of  government  for  the  State. 

Another  fruitless  attempt  to  stay  the  constantly  waning  value  of 
the  paper  currency  was  made  by  the  town,  a  year  later.  On  July 
19,  1779,  Josiah  Robinson,  Nathaniel  Gordon,  Eliphalet  Giddinge, 
Eliphalet  Hale,  Eliphalet  Ladd,  Gideon  Lamson  and  John  T. 
Gilman,  a  committee  appointed  by  the  town  to  consider  the 
subjects  of  a  reduction  of  the  price  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  and 


n 


94  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

the  support  of  the  credit  of  the  currency,  reported  the  following 
scale  of  prices,  to  hold  good  until  the  succeeding  first  of  Septem- 
ber, viz.  : 

West  India  rum     81.    8s.  per  gallon       Salt  made   in  Xew  England,  71.  4s. 

New  England  rum  51.    8s.    "       "  per  bushel 

Molasses  41.  16s.    "       "  Indian  corn  51.    8s.  per  bushel 

Brown  sugar  16s.  to  18s.    "    lb.  Rye  61. 

Chocolate  26s.    "     "  Wheat  91.  12s. 

Coffee  22s.    "     "  Lamb  5s.  "   lb. 

Tea  81.    8s.    "     "  Beef  4s.  6d.      "     " 

Cottonwool  40s.    "     "  Veal  4s.  6d. 

C  No   W.   I.  or  other   foreign  ^salt       Salt  pork  1 2s. 

I  to  exceed  91.  12s.  per  bushel  Butter  12s. 

Best  English  hay  301.  per  ton 
Other  hay  in  proportion  thereto. 

The  committee  also  reported  the  following  resolutions  : 

Besolved,  That  wool,  flax,  cloth  and  other  articles  of  the  produce 
of  this  country  not  herein  particularly  mentioned,  shall  not  exceed 
the  price  of  twenty  shillings  for  what  was  commonly  sold  for  one 
shilling  in  the  year  ITT-i,  and  in  that  rule  of  proportion  to  any 
sum  or  sums. 

Besolved,  That  we  will  sell  no  articles  of  merchandise  not  par- 
ticularly above  mentioned,  at  a  higher  price  than  they  are  now 
sold. 

Resolved,  That  the  tradesmen  and  laborers  of  this  town  will  not 
exceed  the  above  rate  of  twenty  for  one  for  their  labor  and  manu- 
factures, including  those  articles  they  may  have  of  the  produce  of 
this  country,  and  excluding  those  of  foreign  import,  and  that  they 
will  reduce  the  same  in  proportion  as  the  prices  of  merchandise 
and  the  produce  of  the  country  are  from  time  to  time  lowered. 

Resolved,  Upon  condition  the  other  towns  in  this  State  adopt 
similar  measures  respecting  their  merchandise  and  produce,  that 
from  and  after  the  first  day  of  September  next,  we  will  continue 
to  lower  the  prices  mouth  by  month,  unless  some  other  general 
plan  shall  be  adopted  by  the  people  of  this  State. 

Resolved,  That  all  those  who  shall  hereafter  dare  to  refuse  con- 
tinental currency,  or  require  hard  money  for  rent  or  any  other 
article  whatever,  or  shall  in  any  way  endeavor  to  evade  the  salu- 
tary measures  proposed  by  this  body,  shall  be  deemed  enemies  to 
the  interest  and  independence  of  this  United  States,  and  shall  be 
treated  in  such  manner  as  the  town  shall  hereafter  order. 

Resolved,  That  the  foregoing  be  offered  for  signing,  to  every 
male  inhabitant  of  this  town,  paying  taxes. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  ^  95 

The  report  of  the  committee  was  unanimously  adopted.  Stephen 
Thing,  David  Fogg  and  Simeon  Ladd  were  chosen  a  committee  to 
offer  the  resolves  to  the  inhabitants,  for  their  signatures. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  the  committee  reported  that  some 
persons  had  declined  to  sign  the  resolves.  The  town  instructed 
them  to  present  them  to  such  persons  a  second  time,  and  upon 
their  refusal,  to  return  their  names  to  the  selectmen,  who  were 
directed  to  publish  the  same  in  the  New  Hampshire  Gazette.  So 
far  as  can  be  learned  from  the  imperfect  files  of  the  Gazette  known 
to  be  in  existence,  no  such  publication  of  names  was  found  to  be 
necessary.  But  resolutions,  however  patriotic,  could  not  annul 
the  laws  of  finance  and  trade. 

On  the  twenty-sixth  of  March,  1781,  the  credit  of  the  paper 
currency  had  sunk  so  low  that  a  day's  work  on  the  highway  was 
by  order  of  the  town  estimated  at  forty  dollars.  On  the  thirty-first 
of  March,  1783,  after  the  bills  of  credit  had  gone  out  of  circula- 
tion, and  accounts  were  kept  in  metallic  currency,  the  same  was 
reckoned  at  no  more  than  three  shillings. 

The  constitution  agreed  upon  by  the  convention  of  1778  for  the 
government  of  the  State,  having  been  rejected  on  reference  to  the 
people  ;  and  another  convention  having  been  ordered,  to  be  held 
in  Concord  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  June,  1781,  the  tow6  on  the 
fourth  of  that  month  appointed  Nathaniel  Folsom  and  John  T. 
Oilman  delegates  thereto. 

The  fourth  of  July,  1778,  according  to  the  recollection  of  a  gen- 
tleman who  witnessed  it,  was  suitably  observed  in  Exeter,  although 
it  is  not  known  with  what  ceremonials.  The  first  printed  account 
of  a  celebration  of  the  anniversary  which  has  been  met  with,  was 
that  of  1781.  A  contemporary  journal  describes  the  day  as 
"  ushered  in  by  a  display  of  colors  and  the  most  lively  tokens  of 
joy.  At  noon  the  principal  gentlemen  assembled  at  the  Raleigh 
tavern,  kept  by  Colonel  Samuel  Folsom,  where  they  were  honored 
by  the  company  of  the  honorable  council,  and  speaker  of  the 
Assembly,  at  a  genteel  collation,  after  which  a  number  of  suitable 
toasts  were  drank  and  thirteen  cannon  discharged." 

The  people  of  Exeter  endured  their  full  proportion  of  the 
hardships  that  were  caused  by  the  AYar  of  the  Revolution.  A  large 
share  of  the  business  from  which  the  town  had  derived  its  support, 
was  arrested,  and  had  it  not  been  that  the  public  offices  and  State 
administration  were  transferred  to  the  town,  there  would  have 
been  much  more  suffering.     But  the  Legislature  was  in    session 


96  HISTORY  OF  EXETEK. 

much  of  the  thne,  and  during  its  adjournments  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  with  equal  powers,  sat  in  its  stead.  Exeter  was  also  the 
headquarters  for  most  of  the  military  operations ;  so  that, 
altogether,  there  was  no  small  amount  of  activity  and  remunera- 
tive employment  in  the  town. 

What  Exeter  did  to  furnish  soldiers  for  the  war,  will  be  told  in 
another  chapter.  Her  citizens  were  loyal  to  their  own  country, 
with  scarce  an  exception,  A  few  were  lukewarm,  but  the  only 
downright  tory  that  is  known  was  Robert  Luist  Fowle,  the  printer, 
who  was  committed  to  prison  on  the  charge  of  counterfeiting  the 
provincial  paper  currency,  but  made  his  escape,  and  took  refuge 
within  the  Bi'itish  lines. 

But  after  the  war  was  over,  there  came  a  time  of  peculiar  stress. 
The  Utopia  that  so  many  had  looked  forward  to,  as  the  natural 
result  of  independence,  was  not  realized.  Times  were  hard  and 
cash  was  scarce.  Ignorant  and  unreflecting  people  fancied  that 
the  panacea  for  these  ills,  was  for  the  government  to  issue  fresh 
bills  of  credit.  But,  fortunately,  there  were  those  in  authority  in 
the  State  with  sufficient  knowledge  of  political  economy  to  prevent 
the  Legislature  from  resorting  to  that  deceptive  remedy  for  finan- 
cial troubles.  But  they  could  not  convince  the  "  green-backers  " 
of  those  days  ;  and  at  length  matters  came  to  such  a  pass  that  the 
infatuated  clamorers  for  paper  currency  determined  to  make  an 
attempt  to  dragoon  the  Legislature  into  sanctioning  it. 

THE    PAPER    MONEY    MOB    OF    178G. 

A  body  of  men  from  the  towns  in  the  western  part  of  Rocking- 
ham county  by  a  concerted  movement  assembled  September  20, 
1786,  at  Kingston,  thence  to  march  to  Exeter,  where  the  State 
Legislature  was  in  session.  They  were  mustered  in  a  sort  of 
military  array  under  leaders,  some  of  whom  had  served  in  the 
revolutionary  army.  Joseph  French  of  Hampstead,  James  Coch- 
ran of  Pembroke  and  John  McKean  of  Londonderry  were  the  prin- 
cipal officers.  In  the  afternoon  they  made  their  entry  into  the 
village  of  Exeter,  by  way  of  Front  street.  They  numbered  about 
two  hundred,  one-half  of  them  marching  on  foot  and  armed  with 
guns  or  swords,  and  the  remainder  folio tving  on  horseback,  and 
carrying  clubs  or  whips.  The  General  Court  was  sitting  in  the 
First  church,  and  the  Superior  (judicial)  Court  in  the  town-house 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street.     The  insurgents  marched  into 


HISTORY  OF  EXETEH.  97 

the  centre  of  the  village,  aud  by  mistake  surrounded  the  hitter 
building.  If  their  object  had  been  to  overawe  the  legal  tribunal 
within  it,  they  would  have  signally  failed,  for  Judge  Samuel  Liver- 
more  was  presiding,  and  so  far  was  he  from  being  daunted,  that 
he  ordered  the  business  of  the  court  to  proceed,  and  sternly 
forbade  every  one  to  look  out  of  the  windows. 

But  it  was  the  General  Court  that  the  insurgents  meant  to 
intimidate,  and  they  attempted  to  stretch  a  cordon  of  men  around 
the  meeting-house  where  the  legislators  were.  But  there  was  by 
this  time  a  great  body  of  spectators  on  the  ground,  partly  citizens 
of  the  town,  and  partly  inhabitants  of  neighboring  places  who  had 
come  in  to  witness  the  proceedings.  They  were  generally  opposed 
to  the  lawless  intruders,  so  that  when  the  latter  endeavored  to 
draw  near  the  meeting-house,  they  found  it  no  easy  matter  to 
overcome  the  inertia  of  the  nnfriendly  crowd.  Little  by  little, 
however,  they  forced  their  way  to  the  building,  and  stationed  sen- 
tinels at  the  doors  and  windows.  They  then,  after  ostentatiously 
loading  their  fire-arras,  announced  their  purpose  to  compel  the 
Legislature  to  enact  a  law  for  the  emission  of  abundant  paper 
money  which  should  be  made  a  legal  tender  for  debts  and  taxes, 
and  their  determination  to  hold  the  law-makers  in  durance  until 
the  demand  was  complied  with.  One  or  two  representatives  who 
attempted  to  make  their  escape  were  driven  back  with  insult.  It 
fortunately  happened  that  the  chief  executive  of  the  State  was  a 
man  of  courage  and  resolution,  and  not  unacquainted  with  arms, 
John  Sullivan,  who  had  gained  the  rank  of  major  general  in  the 
Revolution.  He  appeared  at  the  entrance  of  the  building  and 
listened  to  the  requirements  of  the  assemblage.  In  a  temperate 
and  reasonable  reply  he  gave  them  to  understand  that  they  need 
not  expect  to  frighten  him,  for  he  had  smelt  powder  before. 
''You  ask  for  justice,"  he  continued,  "and  justice  you  shall 
have."  But  he  did  not  order  tliem  to  disperse  ;  he  perhaps  thought 
it  was  wiser  to  let  them  keep  together,  in  order  the  more  effectually 
to  stamp  out  the  tendency  to  insurrection  against  the  constituted 
authorities. 

The  afternoon  wore  away ;  the  General  Court  were  still  prison- 
ers, and  no  progress  had  been  made  towards  an  adjustment.  By 
this  time  many  of  the  better  class  of  citizens  of  Exeter  were  filled 
with  shame  and  indignation  at  the  unchecked  riotous  demonstra- 
tion, and  one  of  them,  Colonel  Nathaniel  Gilman,  with  the  assist- 
ance of  others,  successfully  practised  a  ruse  de  guerre,  in  order  to 

7 


98  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

raise  the  siege.  It  had  then  become  dusk,  and  a  high  and  close 
fence  around  the  church-yard  prevented  the  rioters  from  seeing 
distinctly  what  was  going  on  outside.  He  caused  a  drum  to  be 
beaten  briskly  at  a  little  distance  while  a  body  of  citizens 
approached  with  a  measured  military  step,  and  then  cried  out  in 
his  stentorian  voice,  "Hurra  for  government!  Here  comes 
Hackett's  artillery !"  The  cry  was  echoed  by  others,  and  the 
insurgents  did  not  wait  for  more.  Their  valor  was  not  up  to  the 
fighting  point,  and  they  rapidly  retreated,  standing  not  on  the 
order  of  their  going.  They  afterward  made  their  rendezvous  on 
the  western  side  of  the  Little  river,  on  the  road  to  Kingston,  and 
there  a  great  part  of  them  spent  the  night. 

No  sooner  had  they  retired  than  steps  were  taken  to  crush  this 
revolt  in  the  bud.  Messengers  were  sent  into  the  neighboring 
towns  bearing  orders  to  the  officers  of  the  militia  to  muster  their 
commands,  and  march  at  once  to  the  scene  of  action  ;  and  in  Exe- 
ter a  company  of  the  first  citizens  enrolled  themselves  under  the 
command  of  Captain  Nicholas  Gilman,  who  had  served  as  an 
officer  through  the  war.  The  next  morning  saw  nearly  two 
thousand  men  under  arms  in  Exeter.  President  Sullivan  assumed 
the  direction  of  the  column,  which  at  once  moved  against  the 
insurrectionary  force,  the  volunteers  of  Exeter  claiming  the  post 
of  honor  in  the  van.  Arrived  within  about  an  eighth  of  a  mile 
from  their  antagonists,  they  were  halted  by  order,  when  a  small 
troop  of  horsemen  *  under  Colonel  Joseph  Cilley,  a  revolutionary 
officer  of  distinction,  galloped  forward,  forded  the  river,  and  made 
prisoners  of  the  principal  leaders  of  the  insurgents  ;  after  which 
their  followers  surrendered  at  discretion. 

Thus  terminated  the  most  formidable  demonstration  against  the 
government  which  was  ever  made  on  the  soil  of  New  Hampshire. 
The  happy  result  of  it  was  in  no  small  degree  clue  to  the  loyal 
feeling  and  prudence  and  pluck  of  the  people  of  Exeter.  The 
attempt  to  dictate  legislation  by  force  having  proved  so  ignomin- 
ious a  failure,  it  was  not  deemed  necessary  to  inflict  serious  pun- 
ishment upon  the  offenders. 

But  the  Legislature,  in  order  that  the  opinion  of  the  people  of 
the  State  should  be  fairly  tested  on  the  expediency  of  issuing  a 
paper  currency,  passed  a  bill  to  authorize  its  emission,  to  be  sub- 

*  Tradition  says  that  Major  Jonathan  Cass,  the  father  of  the  statesman  Lewis  Cass, 

distinguished  himself  on  this  occasion,  and  in  the  charge  leaped  bis  horte  completely 
over  a  well. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETEK.  99 

mitted  to  the  voters  of  the  several  towns  for  their  approval  or 
rejection.  And  on  the  twenty-third  of  October,  1786,  a  meeting 
of  the  citizens  of  Exeter  was  held  for  tlie  expression  of  their 
opinion.  A  committee  of  leading  men  consisting  of  John  T. 
Gilman,  Oliver  Peabody,  Samuel  Tenney,  John  Phillips,  Nicholas 
Gilman,  Thomas  Folsom  and  Noah  Emery  was  appointed,  to  make 
a  report  upon  the  subject,  who  prepared  full  and  elaborate  reasons 
in  writing  against  the  measure,  which  were  read  in  the  meeting  ; 
and  when  the  vote  was  taken  it  was  found  that  there  were  but  six 
in  favor  of  the  plan,  and  seventy-nine  against  it. 

THE    CONVENTION    FOR    THE    ADOPTION    OF    THE    UNITED    STATES 

CONSTITUTION. 

On  the  thirteenth  of  February,  1788,  assembled  in  convention  at 
the  court-house  in  Exeter  the  delegates  chosen  by  the  several 
towns  in  the  State,  to  consider  and  pass  upon  the  constitution 
framed  for  the  government  of  the  United  States,  under  which  we 
now  live.  It  was  an  anxious  period.  The  proposed  constitution 
contained  a  provision  that  it  was  to  go  into  effect  upon  its  ratifica- 
tion by  nine  of  the  thirteen  States.  Eight  had  already  voted  their 
approval  of  it,  and  the  interest  of  the  country  centred  upon  New 
Hampshire,  the  ninth  to  act  upon  it.  The  session  of  the  conven- 
tion in  Exeter  lasted  ten  days.  So  great  was  the  opposition  devel- 
oped to  the  adoption  of  the  new  instrument,  that  its  friends 
thought  it  wiser  to  postpone  final  action  upon  the  question  for  a 
season ;  and  the  convention  was  adjourned  to  meet  again  at 
Concord  in  the  following  June.  The  public  sentiment  had  by  that 
time  so  distinctly  manifested  itself  that  after  a  session  of  four  days 
the  convention  Avas  ready  by  a  fair  majority  to  ratify  the  constitu- 
tion, and  thus  to  put  the  new  government  into  operation.  The 
delegate  of  Exeter,  who  was  one  of  the  most  influential  in  bringing 
about  this  result,  was  John  Taylor  Gilman. 

THE    VISIT    OF    WASHINGTON. 

The  year  1789  is  one  to  be  remembered  in  Exeter,  by  a  visit 
from  the  Father  of  his  country.  George  Washington,  having  been 
inaugurated  the  first  President  of  the  Republic,  was  then  maldng  a 
tour  through  the  Northern  States.  He  had  passed  two  or  three  days 
in  Portsmouth,  and  left  that  place  in  the  morning  of  the  fourth  day 
of  November.     His  habits  of  extreme  punctuality  are  well  known, 


100  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

and  he  probably  set  out  from  Portsmouth  exactly  as  the  hands  of 
the  clock  pointed  to  the  half  hour  after  seven.  The  people  of 
Exeter  had  made  arrangements  to  receive  him  with  a  handsome 
cavalcade.  But  some  of  the  party  were  a  little  dilatory,  and 
before  they  were  in  the  saddle  Washington  made  his  appearance, 
it  not  yet  being  ten  o'clock.  He  was  mounted  on  horseback,  as 
was  his  practice  when  entering  a  town,  and  was  attended  by  his 
two  secretaries,  Colonel  Tobias  Lear  and  Major  William  Jackson, 
who  rode  in  an  open  carriage,  and  by  a  single  servant.  He  wore 
a  drab  surtout  and  a  military  hat.  The  streets  were  thronged  with 
people  waiting  to  welcome  the  distinguished  visitor,  and  Captain 
Simon  AViggin  in  command  of  the  artillery  company  of  Exeter, ' 
had  his  men  promptly  in  line,  and  received  his  Commander-in- 
Chief  with  a  salute  of  thirteen  guns. 

The  party  alighted  at  the  public  house  kept  by  Colonel  Samuel 
Folsom,  where  they  were  waited  upon  by  Colonel  Nicholas  Gilman, 
who  had  been  a  staff  officer  under  Washington  at  Yorktown,  and 
other  revolutionary  soldiers  and  citizens,  proud  to  do  the  honors 
of  the  tos\^n  to  the  President.  They  invited  him  to  tarry  for  a 
night  and  partake  of  a  public  dinner.  But  his  engagements,  pre- 
viously made,  compelled  him,  with  reluctance  as  he  informs  us  in 
his  diary,  to  decline.  They,  however,  gave  him  a  collation,  which 
he  graciously  accepted.  Among  those  who  had  the  honor  of 
waiting  on  him  at  the  table  was  a  young  lady  relative  of  Colonel 
Folsom,  who  had  solicited  the  privilege.  Washington  saw  at  once 
that  she  was  no  menial  servant,  and  calling  her  to  him,  addressed 
her  a  few  pleasant  words  and  kissed  her.  She  lived  to  attain  a 
good  old  age,  and  was  the  friend  of  some  of  the  most  distinguished 
men  of  a  subsequent  generation,  but  probably  no  incident  of  her 
life  made  so  lasting  an  impression  upon  her  memory  as  the  kiss  of 
Washington. 

The  few  hours  of  Washington's  stay  in  Exeter  were  soon  ended, 
and  he  resumed  his  journey.  A  cavalcade  of  gentlemen  escorted 
him  outside  the  village.  He  took  the  road  to  Kingston,  on  his 
way  to  Haverhill,  Massachusetts.  When  he  reached  the  top  of 
Great  hill,  he  directed  the  driver  of  his  carriage  to  halt,  that  he 
might  look  back  upon  tlie  wide  view  of  Exeter  and  its  vicinity. 
He  gazed  a  few  moments  at  the  fan-  landscape-  that  lay  at  his  feet 
and  stretched  away  to  the  ocean,  and  remarked  admiringly  upon 
its  beauty  ;  and  with  this  pleasant  farewell  to  Exeter  he  went  on 
his  way. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  101 

COURT-nOUSE,    FIRE    ENGINE,    LIBRARY,    ETC. 

The  town,  on  October  13,  1788,  had  instructed  the  selectmen  to 
put  up  a  chimney  in  the  town-house,  and  to  make  such  repairs  on 
the  building  as  to  render  it  suitable  for  the  sessions  of  the  General 
Court  aud  county  courts.  But  three  years  afterwards  the  need  of 
a  new  court-house  became  apparent,  and  on  the  twelfth  of  Septem- 
ber, 1791,  the  town  voted  to  raise,  to  be  assessed  the  next  year, 
two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  for  the  purpose  of  building  one,  to 
be  placed  on  the  land  between  the  house  of  the  late  General 
Folsom  and  that  of  Ward  Clark  Dean  ;  and  that  so  much  of  said 
land  as  should  be  necessary,  be  appropriated  for  the  purpose. 
This  location  was  in  the  middle  of  the  present  Court  square,  just 
in  front  of  the  town-house.  The  buildiug  was  completed,  there, 
in  season  for  the  town  to  hold  its  annual  meeting  in  it,  in  March, 
1793. 

The  State  constitution  which  was  adopted  by  the  people  in  1783 
was  found  on  trial  to  require  amendment,  aud  on  August  8,  1791, 
the  town,  at  a  meeting  held  for  the  purpose,  appointed  Samuel 
Tenney  a  delegate  to  the  convention  to  be  held  at  Concord  on  the 
succeeding  first  Wednesday  of  September,  to  revise  the  constitu- 
tion. 

At  the  March  town  meeting  in  1794,  it  was  voted  to  raise  a  sum 
not  exceeding  seventy  pounds,  for  the  purchase  of  a  new  fire 
engine,  hooks,  etc.,  for  the  use  of  the  town;  and  that  Gideon 
Lamson  be  empowered  to  bargain  for  the  same,  and, to  sell  the 
engine  then  belonging  to  the  town,  and  account  for  the  proceeds 
thereof.  The  former  engine  here  referred  to  was  procured  in  1774 
at  the  cost,  including  transportation,  of  fifty-two  pounds. 

It  was  also  voted  that  any  persons  who  might  be  unwilling  to 
pay  their  taxes  assessed  for  the  new  engine,  could  have  them 
abated  upon  application  to  the  selectmen,  by  the  first  Monday  of 
May  following.  This,  and  one  or  two  other  similar  cases  of  con- 
sideration, exhibited  by  the  majority,  for  the  inability  or  opposition 
of  a  minority  of  the  tax-payers,  are  worthy  of  being  recorded,  to 
the  credit  of  the  town.  They  are  in  sharp  contrast  to  the  ideas 
and  practice  of  some  communities,  in  later  times. 

At  the  adjourned  annual  meeting  in  March,  1797,  it  was  voted 
by  the  town  that  Benjamin  Clark  Gilman  and  his  associates  should 
have  the  privilege  of  sinking  an  aqueduct  in  Fore  street,  and  such 
other  streets  as  they  might  find  convenient,  for  supplying  water  to 
customers  ;  and  of  breaking  ground  to  repair  the  same  ;  on  condi- 


102  HISTOKY  OF  EXETER. 

tion  that  they  should  put  the  streets  in  as  good  a  state  as  they 
found  them  in,  within  a  reasonable  time,  and  should  indemnify 
the  town  against  prosecutions  on  that  account. 

In  1797  the  Legislature  incorporated  several  of  the  principal 
citizens  of  the  town  as  the  "  Exeter  Social  Library."  They  at 
once  completed  an  organization,  and  adopted  rules  and  regula- 
tions. From  a  little  pamphlet  printed  for  their  use  by  Henry 
Ranlet  in  the  same  year,  it  appears  that  they  began  with  thirty- 
eight  proprietors  and  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight  volumes.  The 
number  of  the  latter  was  subsequently  much  increased,  and  the 
society  continued  in  existence  for  a  considerable  period,  until  the 
books  having  probably  become  pretty  familiar,  the  interest  in  the 
library  so  far  abated,  that  its  contents  were  divided  among  the 
propi'ietors. 

In  the  year  1798  a  number  of  citizens,  for  the  better  protection 
of  their  property  from  loss  by  fire,  entered  into  a  voluntary  asso- 
ciation called  the  "Fire  Society  of  I^xeter."  Their  constitution 
provided  that  the  number  of  members  should  not  exceed  twenty- 
five,  and  that  no  person  should  be  admitted,  except  at  a  meeting 
where  three-fourths  of  the  society  were  present ;  and  if  more  than 
a  single  ballot  were  cast  against  him.  Each  member  was  to  keep 
always  in  readiness  two  leather  buckets,  and  two  bags  a  yard  and 
a  half  in  length  and  three-quarters  of  a  yard  in  breadth,  with 
strings  at  the  mouth ;  and  at  every  alarm  of  fire  was  instantly  to 
repair  with  his  buckets  and  bags  to  the  house  or  other  building  of 
the  member  whose  danger  should  appear  greatest,  and  make  every 
exertion  for  the  preservation  of  his  building  and  personal  property. 
Various  fines  were  prescribed  for  delinquencies,  which  went,  if 
this  society  was  conducted  like  similar  associations  elsewhere,  to 
pay  for  an  occasional  dinner  and  jollification  for  the  members. 
The  society,  having  this  happy  commingling  of  the  utile  with  the 
duld,,  was  kept  up  for  many  years,  and  was  the  precursor  of  other 
combinations  for  the  same  object.  The  "Junior  Fire  Society" 
was  in  successful  operation  in  1817,  and  the  "Phoenix  Fire 
Society"  in  1832. 

HONORS    TO    THE    MEMORY    OF    WASHINGTON. 

Nearly  all  the  sessions  of  the  State  Legislature  were  held  in 
Exeter  from  the  beginning  of  the  year  1776  to  1784  ;  but  for  the 
succeeding  fifteen  years  they  were  distributed  among  three  or 
four  towns,  Exeter  receiving  but  a  small  share  of  them.     The 


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HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  103 

last  meeting  there  was  ia  December,  1799.  Near  the  close  of 
the  session  intelligence  was  received  of  the  death  of  Washington, 
which  occurred  on  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  mouth.  The  General 
Court  immediately  suspended  business  and  resolved,  in  respect  to 
the  memory  of  the  deceased  patriot,  to  go  into  mourning  for  the 
term  of  three  mouths.  And  on  the  day  following,  the  executive 
and  legislative  officers  of  the  State,  with  the  selectmen  and  citizens 
of  the  town,  escorted  by  a  military  company  of  students  of  the 
academy  in  uniform  with  proper  badges  of  mourning,  marched  in 
procession  to  the  First  meeting-house,  where  religious  exercises 
were  performed,  appropriate  to  the  sad  event.  The  citizens  of 
the  town  resolved  to  take  further  and  more  formal  notice  of  the 
national  bereavement.  They  accordingly  invited  the  Hon.  Jere- 
miah Smith  to  deliver  a  eulogy  on  the  late  President.  On  the 
succeeding  twenty-second  of  February,  which  was  generally 
observed  as  a  day  of  mourning  throughout  the  land,  they  gathered, 
with  all  the  insignia  of  respect  and  grief,  in  the  meeting-house  of 
the  First  parish,  and  there  listened  to  an  eloquent  oration  in  honor 
of  the  deceased  First  Citizen  of  America,  pronounced  by  one  who 
was  fully  capable  of  appreciating  his  greatness  and  his  virtues, 
and  who  had  known  him  in  public  and  in  private  life,  in  his  official 
position  at  the  national  capital  and  as  his  visitor  at  Mount  Vernon. 

In  1799  the  streets  of  the  town  for  the  first  time  received 
authoritative  names,  recommended  by  a  committee  of  citizens,  and 
adopted  by  the  town,  as  they  are  given  upon  the  plan  drawn  by 
Phineas  Merrill  in  1802,  a  copy  of  which  is  contained  in  this 
volume. 

In  1801  the  "Exeter  Aqueduct"  received  incorporation  from  the 
Legislature  of  the  State,  and  brought  into  the  village  water  drawn 
from  springs  not  far  from  the  present  station  of  the  Boston  and 
Maine  Railroad.  It  was  conveyed  through  perforated  logs,  and, 
of  course,  the  supply  was  quite  limited.  Benjamin  Clark  Gilman 
was  the  projector  of  the  enterprise  in  1797  ;  and  in  later  time  the 
management  of  the  aqueduct  fell  into  the  hands  of  Nathaniel  S. 
Adams,  and  finally  of  John  Bellows.  It  was  abandoned  a  number 
of  years  ago. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  in  1804  it  was  voted  that  the  select- 
men, in  case  of  blocking  snows,  should  employ  proper  persons  to 
open  the  roads,  at  the  expense  of  the  town. 

In  1811  the  town  voted  that  the  selectmen  purchase  for  the  use 
of  the  town  a  new  fire  engine  and  appurtenances  at  a  cost  not 


104  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

exceeding  three  hundred  dollars  ;  the  engine  of  1794  being  deemed 
insufficient. 

TEMPERANCE  ;    WAR    OF    1812  ;    PRAYER    IN    TOWN    MEETINGS. 

As  early  as  1812  germs  of  the  temperance  reform  began  to  show 
themselves  in  the  action  of  the  town.  A  vote  was  passed  at  the 
annual  meeting  to  request  the  selectmen  to  prevent  the  selling  or 
having  of  any  liquors  at  the  court-house  on  town-meeting  days, 
and  to  make  it  the  duty  of  a  constable  to  see  that  the  vote  should 
be  carried  into  full  effect.  The  following  preamble  and  resolution 
were  also  adopted : 

Ketailers  of  ardent  spirits  duly  observing  the  laws  are  a  nec- 
essary class  of  men.  But  when  they  so  grossly  abuse  the  trust 
and  confidence  reposed  in  them  as  to  sell  ardent  spirits  in  less 
quantities  than  the  laws  permit,  harbor  citizens  of  the  toAvn  in 
their  stores  and  shops  day  after  day  and  night  after  night,  spend- 
ing the  money  which  ought  to  be  expended  in  the  support  of  their 
families  in  co'rrupting  the  morals  and  setting  a  destructive  example 
before  others,  it  is  time  for  the  town  to  arouse  from  their  slumbers, 
place  the  axe  at  the  root  of  the  tree  of  vice  and  idle  habits  by 
rigidly  executing  the  laws  amply  sufficient  to  effect  it.  This  is 
an  increasing  evil,  and  for  which  a  remedy  is  immediately  wanted. 

Resolved,  therefore,  That  the  selectmen  and  overseers  inspect 
all  disorderly  licensed  houses,  etc.,  and  prosecute  such  offenders 
with  the  utmost  severity  of  the  law. 

The  war  against  England,  which  was  declared  .in  1812,  was 
regarded  by  the  majority  of  the  people  of  New  England  as  un- 
necessary and  wrong.  Exeter  partook  of  that  feeling,  and  when 
a  meeting  of  the  town  was  called  in  August,  1812,  to  see  what 
pay  and  bounty  should  be  offered  to  the  militia  called  into  the 
service  of  the  United  States,  appointed  a  committee,  consisting  of 
JohnT.  Gilraan,  Oliver  Peabody,  Samuel  Tenney,  Gideon  Lamson 
and  Joseph  Tilton,  Jr.,  to  take  the  subject  into  consideration. 
At  an  adjourned  meeting  the  committee  submitted  a  written 
report,  setting  out  that  for  reasons  therein  given,  the  town  ought 
not  to  pay  bounties  or  add  to  the  compensation  provided  by  law 
for  men  employed  in  the  military  service  in  that  war.  The  report 
was  accepted. 

On  the  second  of  November  following,  the  meeting  of  the  citi- 
zens for  the  choice  of  representatives  in  Congress  and  presidential 
electors,  was  opened  by  "a  well  adapted  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  105 

Rowland."  This  appears  to  have  been  the  inauguration  or  possi- 
bly the  revival  of  a  practice  which  afterwards  continued  for  more 
than  a  quarter  of  a  century. 

SUPPORT    OF    THE    POOR. 

In  1817  the  town  passed  a  vote  that  the  selectmen  and  over- 
seers be  authorized  to  purchase  a  farm  or  house  for  the  use  of  the 
town  where  they  might  place  the  poor,  and  that  they  hire  for  that 
purpose  a  sum  not  exceeding  four  thousand  dollars.  A  purchase 
was  accordingly  made  of  a  house  and  land  near  Beech  hill ;  and 
in  1821  the  town  voted  to  enlarge  the  town  farm  by  the  addition 
of  the  "Cuba"  land  adjoining  it,  and  to  establish  an  almshouse 
and  house  of  correction.  Prior  to  that  time  the  mode  of  providing 
for  tliose  who  needed  support  was  by  letting  them  out  by  auction, 
or  rather  by  diminution,  to  the  lowest  bidder.  Their  number  was 
comparatively  small,  and  their  several  capacities  and  incapacities 
were  well  known.  The  responsible  citizens  who  were  willing  to 
board,  clothe  and  care  for  them  at  the  least  cost  to  the  town,  were 
allowed  to  take  them  to  their  homes,  and  have  the  charge  of  them. 
It  is  believed  that  under  this  system  the  paupers  usually  received 
good  treatment ;  and  they  certainly  were  not  sent  far  away  from 
their  acquaintances  and  familiar  surroundings,  to  pine  among 
strangers  in  a  strange  place. 

In  1823  the  town  adopted  an  act  of  the  Legislature  for  the  es- 
tablishment of  police  in  towns. 

In  1826  the  town  appropriated  four  hundred  dollars  to  procure 
a  lot  of  land  for  the  use  of  the  county,  to  erect  a  fire-proof  build- 
ing upon,  for  public  offices  and  the  preservation  of  public  records. 
The  building  was  constructed  of  brick  with  stone  vaults  to  contain 
the  books  and  files  of  the  county,  and  was  located  on  Front  street, 
just  easterly  of  the  Phillips  Exeter  Academy.  It  answered  its 
purpose  satisfactorily  for  half  a  century,  but  the  increase  of  the 
records,  and  the  demand  for  greater  care  for  their  preservation, 
will  soon  render  necessary  enlarged  and  better  constructed  accom- 
modations. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  March,  1832,  the  town  appropriated 
three  hundred  dollars  for  the  purchase  of  a  hay  scale.  It  was 
placed  nearly  opposite  the  First  church  and  in  front  of  the  lot  on 
which  the  Squamscot  House  was  afterwards  erected,  in  1837. 

The  situation  of  the  court-house  was  felt  to  be  inconvenient  6u 


106  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

many  accounts,  and  in  1834  the  town  gave  the  selectmen  authority 
to  purchase  a  lot  of  land,  and  remove  the  court-house  thereon, 
and  fit  up  the  same  at  the  expense  of  the  town,  upon  condition 
that  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  of  the  cost  should  be  contributed 
by  individuals.  The  condition  was  complied  with,  and  the  build- 
ing was  removed  to  the  southerly  corner  of  Court  and  River  streets, 
where  its  immediate  successor  still  stands.  Petitions  were  subse- 
quently presented  for  the  sale  or  lease  of  the  lot  where  it  had 
stood,  but  the  town  wisely  declined  to  part  with  the  control  of  the 
land,  and  it  has  since  constituted  what  is  known  as  Court  square, 
and  now  has  a  very  useful  drinking  fountain  in  the  centre. 

In  1838,  at  the  annual  meeting,  the  town  again  put  upon  record 
its  sentiments  in  relation  to  the  mischiefs  of  the  habit  of  strong 
drink,  as  follows  : 

Jlesolvexl,  That  as  much  of  the  paupei'ism,  disease  and  misery 
existing  among  us  may  be  attributed  to  intemperance,  it  is  desir- 
able that  all  suitable  means  should  be  used  for  the  promotion  of 
the  temperance  cause,  and  we,  tlie  citizens  of  this  town,  in  town 
meeting  assembled,  authorize  our  selectmen  to  take  all  lawful  and 
equitable  measures  for  the  removal  of  this  evil  from  among  us. 

CELEBRATION    OF    BI-CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY. 

The  year  1838  being  the  two  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  foun- 
dation of  the  town,  was  recognized  as  a  proper  occasion  for  public 
exercises  in  commemoration  of  that  event.  The  necessary  prep- 
arations were  seasonably  made,  and  the  Hon.  Jeremiah  Smith 
was  designated  to  prepare  a  historical  address  to  be  pronounced 
on  the  occasion.  The  fourth  of  July  was  chosen  as  a  suitable  day, 
and  the  citizens  of  the  neighboring  towns  which  had  once  formed 
parts  of  Exeter,  were  invited  to  join  in  the  celebration. 

The  day  was  favorable.  A  procession,  composed  of  a  large 
body  of  citizens,  the  children  of  the  Sunday  schools  and  of  the 
town  schools,  and  the  students  of  the  Phillips  Exeter  Academy, 
escorted  by  the  company  of  Exeter  Artillery,  all  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Captain  Nathaniel  GUman,  3d,  chief  marshal,  marched 
through  the  principal  streets  of  the  village  to  the  meeting-house  of 
the  First  parish,  which  was  filled  to  overflowing.  After  music  by 
the  band,  and  the  singing  of  appropriate  pieces  by  the  choir,  the 
Rev.  Isaac  Hurd  offered  an  impressive  prayer.  Then  the  ven- 
erable Judge  Smith  delivered  his  interesting  and  valuable  address, 
extracts  from  which  will  be  found  in  the  appendix  to  this  volume 
(III). 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  107 

After  the  close  of  the  exercises  at  the  meeting-house  a  proces- 
sion was  again  formed,  of  the  invited  guests  and  subscribers  to 
the  public  dinner,  and  moved  to  the  court-house,  in  the  lower 
story  of  which  the  tables  had  been  arranged.  The  Hon. 
Timothy  Farrar  presided  at  the  dinner,  assisted  by  the  Hon. 
William  Plumer,  Jr.,  of  Epping,  Captain  Nathaniel  Oilman,  3d 
and  William  W.  Stickney,  Esq.,  of  Newmarket.  After  the  cloth 
was  removed  the  presiding  officer  made  an  address  of  welcome 
and  congratulation.  A  series  of  sentiments  were  then  read,  which 
were  severally  responded  to,  by  the  Hon.  William  Plumer,  Jr., 
the  Hon.  Prentiss  Mellen,  and  other  gentlemen  of  note  present. 

In  the  evening  there  was  a  levee  at  Howard  hall,  and  the  day 
was  closed  with  a  brilliant  display  of  fireworks.  The  entire  cele- 
bration was  most  satisfactory,  and  was  highly  enjoyed  by  the 
numerous  assemblage  which  had  gathered  from  far  and  near.  The 
chairman  of  the  committee  of  citizens,  to  whom  much  credit  was 
due,  was  Joseph  Tilton,  Esq. 

RE-NAMING    STREETS  ;    NEW    COURT-HOUSE. 

In  1840  the  selectmen  received  authority  to  name  the  streets 
anew,  and  performed  that  duty  as  follows  : 

The  street  leading  from  Great  bridge  towards  Hampton  is  to  be  called 
High  street. 

From  Mary  Jones's  corner  towards  Stratham,  Portsmouth  avenue. 

"  Great  bridge  to  James  Grant's,  Pleasant  street. 

"  "          "       to  Joseph  Furnald's,  Water  street. 

«'  "           "       to  Christian  chapel,  Franklin  street. 

"  Franklin  street  to  Court  street,  South  street. 

"  Joseph  Tilton's  to  John  Gordon's,  Front  street. 

"  Kiniings's  brook  to  James  Bell's,  Main  street. 

"  James  Bell's  to  Jeremiah  Smith's,  Middle  street. 

"  Squamscot  house  to  Little  river  bridge,  Court  street. 

"  Widow  Odiorne's  to  Exeter  bank.  Centre  street. 

"  Margaret  Emery's  to  Colonel  Chadwick's,  Ladd  street. 

"  Sherburne  Blake's  to  William  Lane's,  Spring  street. 

"  J.  Robinson,  Jr.'s  to  Main  street.  Academy  street. 

"  Isaac  Leavitt's  to  Samuel  Philbrick's,  Winter  street. 

"  Samuel  Philbrick's  to  Water  street.  Back  street. 

"  Rev.  Mr.  Rowland's  to  Joseph  Furnald's,  Summer  street. 

"  Samuel  Moses's  to  Back  street,  Cross  street.                     ^ 

"  Cross  street  to  Water  street,  Green  street. 


108  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Most  of  the  streets  still  retain  the  names  here  given  them,  but 
a  few  have  taken  others,  more  iu  accordance  with  the  fitness  of 
things.  Cross  street,  for  example,  has  given  place  with  great  pro- 
priety to  Cass  street,  as  it  contains  the  house  where  the  Hon. 
Lewis  Cass  was  born.  And  therein  is  a  hint  that  ought  to  be 
taken  and  improved.  The  town  is  noted  for  the  number  of  dis- 
tinguished men  who  have  resided  in  it.  What  more  appropriate 
nomenclature  for  its  streets  could  be  adopted  than  the  names  of 
its  principal  inhabitants  and  families?  Wheelwright,  Hilton, 
Dudley,  Gilman,  Folsom,  Phillips,  Sullivan  and  other  historic 
names  are  far  preferable  for  this  purpose,  in  every  point  of  view, 
to  such  unmeaning  appellations  as  Front,  Back,  Middle,  Centre, 
and  the  like.  This  would  be  a  graceful  method  of  keeping  green 
the  memory  of  the  Exeter  worthies  of  the  past,  and  the  quarter 
millennial  anniversary  of  the  town  is  a  peculiarly  suitable  occasion 
to  make  the  change. 

In  the  spring  of  1841  the  court-house,  that  had  been  moved 
seven  years  before  into  Court  street,  was  destroyed  by  fire.  An 
exhibition  called  the  "  Burning  of  Moscow  "  had  just  been  held  in 
it,  and  was  the  cause  of  this  less  extensive  conflagration.  The 
town  held  a  meeting  on  the  sixth  of  April  of  the  same  year,  and 
appropriated  the  sum  of  three  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  for 
a  town-house,  to  contain  a  town  hall  and  court  rooms.  The 
building  committee  were  James  Burley,  Nathaniel  Gilman,  Jr., 
William  Conner,  James  Bell  and  Ira  B.  Hoitt.  The  building  was 
promptly  erected,  of  wood,  and  is  still  standing  on  the  lot  where 
the  former  court-house  was  situated,  but  is  now  occupied  by  the 
Town  Library,  the  Natural  Histor}'  Society,  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  etc.  It  was  used  for  the  purposes  for  which  it  was 
originally  designed,  only  about  fifteen  years. 

At  the  March  town  meeting  in  1842  a  resolution  was  passed,  to 
license  one  apothecary  to  sell  spirituous  liquors,  for  medicinal  pur- 
poses and  the  arts  only,  and  to  grant  no  further  license  therefor. 
And  the  next  year  it  was  resolved,  with  but  a  single  dissenting 
voice,  to  license  one  town  agent  and  no  more,  and  to  prosecute 
offenders  against  the  license  law. 

In  1844  the  useful  practice  was  begun  of  printing  the  annual 
accounts  of  the  selectmen  and  overseers,  for  distribution  among 
the  tax-payers.  The  practice  has  been  kept  up  each  year  since, 
and  has  been  extended  to  the  reports  and  accounts  of  all  the 
officers  of  the  town. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  109 

The  selectmen  had  been  empowered  in  1840  to  procure  to  be 
made  a  survey  and  plan  of  the  town.  This  was  accomplished  in 
1845.  Joseph  Dow  of  Hampton  was  the  surveyor  employed,  and 
from  his  draft  two  plans  were  published,  the  one  of  the  village 
and  the  other  of  the  entire  township.  Similar  plans  had  been 
issued  forty-three  years  previously,  by  Phinehas  Merrill  of 
Stratham ;  and  a  plot  of  the  village  on  a  larger  scale  has  been 
since  published  from  a  survey  made  in  1874. 

In  1844,  at  the  annual  meeting,  an  appropriation  of  four  hun- 
dred dollars  was  made  for  the  purchase  of  a  town  clock,  which 
was  set  up  in  the  tower  of  the  First  church. 

On  October  8,  1850,  the  town  appointed  GUman  Marston,  John 
Kelly  and  Joseph  G.  Hoyt  delegates  to  the  convention  to  be  held 
at  Concord  on  the  sixth  of  November  following,  to  revise  the  con- 
stitution of  the  State. 

In  1852  the  town,  taking  warning  from  a  disastrous  conflagra- 
tion which  had  recently  occurred,  by  which  the  two  principal  hotels 
had  been  laid  in  ashes,  caused  the  purchase  of  another  fire  engine 
at  the  cost  of  six  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  and  laid  out  a  further 
considerable  sum  in  the  improvement  of  the  reservoirs. 

The  wooden  town-house  which  was  erected  in  1841  was  found 
to  be  ill  located,  and  insufficient,  and  a  movement  was  made  in 
1853  to  build  another,  better  suited  to  the  public  needs.  For  that 
purpose  the  town  authorized  an  appropriation  of  thirty  thousand 
dollars.  The  measure  was  not  carried  without  strenuous  and 
bitter  opposition.  Some  of  the  older  and  more  conservative  citi- 
zens contended  that  the  building  then  in  use  answered  its  end  suf- 
ficiently, particularly  as  it  had  been  erected  only  twelve  years 
before,  and  were  especially  aggrieved  by  the  exorbitant  sum  pur- 
posed to  be  expended.  The  question  of  the  location  of  the  pro- 
posed building,  too,  caused  a  difference  of  opinion,  which  was  not 
settled  until  March,  1855.  The  Dean  lot,  at  the  northwestern 
corner  of  Court  square  and  Water  street,  received  the  majority  of 
suffrages,  and  there  the  new  building,  which  is  of  brick,  and  of 
fine  architectural  proportions,  and  has  from  that  time  to  the 
present  been  equally  ornamental  and  useful  to  the  town,  was 
placed. 

It  was  in  1853  that  the  first  appropriation  was  made  by  the 
town  for  the  establishment  of  the  Public  Library.  The  project 
originated  with  some  public  spirited  citizens,  who  laid  the  founda- 
tions for  its  success  by  contributing  to  the  infant  Library,  from 


no  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

their  own  collections,  a  considerable  number  of  useful  books. 
The  town  was  quite  ready  to  adopt  the  enterprise,  and  appropriated 
for  the  care  and  increase  of  the  Library  for  the  first  few  years 
three  hundred,  and  since  then  five  hundred  dollars  annually, 
besides  providing  suitable  rooms  for  its  accommodation  in  the  old 
town-house.  As  the  expense  of  library  service  is  small,  the  chief 
part  of  the  annual  appropriations  has  been  laid  out  in  books,  and 
from  that  source,  and  by  donations  from  various  quarters,  the 
shelves  have  been  gradually  filled. 

A  fund  of  five  thousand  dollars  for  the  enlargement  of  the 
Library  was  given  by  the  late  Dr.  Charles  A.  Merrill ;  the  income 
of  which  is  to  be  applied  to  the  purchase  of  works  of  sterling 
value. 

The  number  of  volumes  now  in  the  Library  amounts  to  more 
than  six  thousand.  They  are,  with  few  exceptions,  well  selected, 
and  are  very  generally  circulated  in  the  households  of  the  town, 
and  diligently  perused. 

LIGHTING  STREETS  ;  SIDEWALKS  ;  STEAM  FIRE  ENGINE  ;  WATER  WORKS. 

The  streets  of  the  town  were  first  lighted  in  18G3,  although  gas 
works  had  been  in  operation  several  years  previously.  The  lights 
at  first  were  rather  few  and  far  between,  and  some  persons  com- 
plained that  they  only  served  to  make  the  darkness  more  visible  ; 
but  the  number  has  since  been  so  much  increased  that  there  is  no 
longer  any  question  of  their  utQity. 

In  the  same  year  it  was  voted  to  fund  thirty  thousand  dollars 
of  the  debt  of  the  town,  which  had  been  incurred  in  building  the 
town-house,  and  in  bounties  and  aid  to  soldiers'  families  in  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion. 

About  the  year  1871  the  sidewalks  of  the  village  underwent  a 
very  general  renovation.  Before  then  they  were  mostly  made  of 
gravel,  except  in  the  business  part  of  Water  street.  It  was  felt 
that  they  were  hardly  up  to  the  requirement  of  the  times,  and  an 
order  was  adopted  to  encourage  the  citizens  to  reconstruct  them 
in  an  improved  fashion.  The  town  agreed  to  repay  to  all  land- 
owners in  the  village  one-half  the  expense  of  sidewalks  of  con- 
crete, brick  or  other  durable  materials,  which  they  should  cause 
to  be  laid  in  front  of  their  respective  lots.  The  offer  was  quite 
generally  taken  advantage  of,  and  the  vUlage  has  since  afforded 
better  facilities  for  pedestrians  than  are  to  be  found  in  most  places 
of  equal  population  and  means. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  Ill 

Notwithstanding  Exeter  had  for  a  century  been  quite  in  the 
fore  front  of  country  towns  in  providing  against  the  danger  of 
fires,  and  had  made  very  considerable  annual  payments  for  that 
purpose,  yet,  up  to  the  year  1873,  nothing  more  eflicient  than 
hand  engines  had  been  procured.  It  was  then  determined  that  a 
steam  fire  engine  was  a  necessity.  Though  the  expense  of  it  and 
of  all  the  needful  accompaniments,  including  a  substantial  house 
of  brick  on  Water  street,  was  somewhat  onerous,  yet  the  service 
rendered  by  the  acquisition,  on  one  or  two  occasions,  fully  out- 
weighed the  cost.  The  fire  department  of  the  town  is  highly  effi- 
cient, and  its  members  have  shown  their  pluck  and  endurance  on 
many  a  hard  fought  field.  And  now  that  abundant  hydrants  have 
been  added  to  all  other  safeguards,  the  risk  of  any  wide  conflagra- 
tion seems  reduced  to  a  minimum. 

A  new  convention  to  revise  the  constitution  of  the  State  was 
ordered,  to  be  held  at  Concord  on  the  sixth  of  December,  1876, 
and  the  town  elected  as  delegates  thereto,  William  W.  Stickney, 
Gilman  Marston,  William  B.  Morrill  and  John  J.  Bell. 

The  'Exeter  Water  Works"  went  into  operation  in  1886.  This 
is  the  title  of  an  incorporated  company,  which  has  established  its 
reservoirs  and  pumping  apparatus  on  a  little  stream  which  leads 
to  the  historic  "AVheelwright's  creek."  Thence  the  water  is  driven 
to  a  stand  pipe  on  the  summit  of  Prospect  hill,  which  gives  it  a 
sufficient  head  to  reach  the  top  of  the  highest  building  in  the 
village.  A  contract  has  been  executed  between  the  corporation 
and  the  town,  by  which  the  former,  in  consideration  of  an  annual 
subsidy  of  two  thousand  dollars,  engaged  to  furnish  to  the  town 
for  the  term  of  twenty  years,  all  the  water  needed  for  the  extin- 
guishment of  fires  and  for  other  municipal  purposes  ;  and  also,  on 
certain  conditions,  to  turn  over  to  the  town,  its  works,  plant  and 
property,  upon  being  reimbursed  the  cost  thereof. 


CHAPTER  V. 

BOUNDARIES  AND  DIVISIONS;    ROADS  AND  BRIDGES. 

The  original  townsiiip  of  Exeter,  as  described  in  the  deeds  of 
the  Indian  sagamores  to  John  Wheelwright  and  his  associates, 
embraced  all  the  territory  between  the  Merrimac  river  (or  three 
miles  north  of  it)  on  the  south ;  the  sea  on  the  east ;  the  Pascata- 
qua  patents  on  the  eastern  north,  and  a  line  one  mile  beyond  the 
Oyster  river  on  the  western  north  ;  and  extended  from  the  sea 
thirty  miles  into  the  country.  This  was  a  goodly  domain,  and 
must  have  contained,  at  the  lowest  estimate  four  or  five  hundred 
square  miles.  But  only  a  fraction  of  it  was  ever  occupied  by  the 
people  of  Exeter.     It  was  soon  curtailed  on  nearly  every  side. 

Winicowet,  or  Hampton,  was  settled  shortly  after  Exeter.  Its 
entire  original  territory,  including  the  present  townships  of  Hamp- 
ton, North  Hampton,  Seabrook,  South  Hampton,  Hampton  Falls 
and  Kensington,  and  containing  not  less  than  seventy  square 
miles,  was  carved  from  the  Indians'  grant  to  Wheelwright. 
Dover,  on  the  north,  pushed  her  occupancy,  under  the  claim  of  a 
purchase  from  the  Indians,  not  only  to  Oyster  river,  but  southerly 
across  the  intervening  space  to  Lamprey  river,  excepting  a  small 
triangle  of  land  bordering  on  the  Great  Bay.  Of  the  western 
north  part  of  the  Wheelwright  Indian  purchase,  not  less  than 
thirty  square  miles  were  held  to  belong  to  Dover  ;  the  greater  part 
of  it  in  the  present  township  of  Durham. 

The  western  bound  of  Exeter  was  fixed  by  a  committee  of  the 
General  Court  of  Massachusetts  at  about  twenty  miles  distance 
from  the  sea,  instead  of  thirty  miles,  the  limit  of  the  Indian  grant ; 
so  the  area  of  the  town  was  thus  further  shorn  of  about  one-half 
its  original  dimensions. 

A  single  addition  to  the  town's  territory  is  also  to  be  recorded. 
In  1656,  or  earlier,  Thomas  Wiggin,  agent  of  the  owners  of 
the  southern  division  of  the  Squamscot  patent,  by  his  deed  of 
gift  conveyed  to  the  town  a  belt  of  land  from  the  southerly  end 

112 


HISTORY  OF  EXETETi.  ll;J 

thereof,  about  a  mile  in  breadth  and  between  two  and  three  miles 
in  length. 

When  all  these  subtractions  and  this  addition  were  made, 
Exeter,  in  place  of  its  original  ample  precincts  was  reduced  in 
territory  to  about  seventy  square  miles.  This  is  occupied  by  the 
present  townships  of  Exeter,  Newmarket,  South  Newmarket, 
Epping,  Brentwood  and  Fremont. 

These  various  alterations  of  boundary  were  not  accomplished 
without  objection.  Towns  are  as  averse  as  land-owners  to  any 
diminution  of  their  possessions,  and  there  are  few  more  fruitful 
sul)jects  of  contention  than  conterminous  boundaries. 

There  is  scarcely  a  doubt  that  the  bounds  of  Dover  and  of 
Hampton  were  laid  out  by  committees  of  the  General  Court  of 
Massachusetts,  before  Exeter  acknowledged  the  jurisdiction  of 
that  colony.  It  was  claimed  by  Dover  that  Lamprey  river  was 
thus  fixed  as  the  line  between  that  township  and  Exeter  in  1641 
or  1642  ;  and  the  western  bound  of  Hampton,  where  it  adjoined 
the  eastern  extremity  of  fCxeter,  was  early  assumed  to  be  distant 
two  miles  from  the  meeting-house  of  the  latter  town,  and,  without 
much  question,  had  been  so  defined  under  the  authority  of  the 
Massachusetts  colony. 

When  the  petition  of  Exeter  to  be  received  within  the  govern- 
ment of  Massachusetts  was  presented.  May  12,  1643,  the  consent 
of  the  deputies  and  of  the  magistrates  was  indorsed  thereon,  and 
Samuel  Dudley,  Edward  Rawson  and  Edward  Carleton  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  for  laying  out  the  bounds.  It  is  not  known 
what,  if  an^'thing,  was  done  by  the  committee.  On  the  seventh 
of  the  following  September,  when  the  petition  was /o?'mf/Z/^  granted, 
William  Paj'ue,  Matthew  Boyes  and  John  Saunders  were  appointed 
to  settle  the  bounds  between  Exeter  and  Hampton,  within  two 
months.  If  they  performed  that  duty,  it  was  not  very  satisfacto- 
rily, for  the  General  Court  on  the  sixth  day  of  May,  1646,  in 
response  to  the  petition  of  several  inhabitants  of  P^xeter,  appointed 
Samuel  Dudley,  Edward  Rawson  and  Edward  Carleton  to  "lay 
out  Exeter  bounds  next  to  Hampton,  and  so  round  about  them, 
provided  there  be  no  entrenching  on  the  bounds  of  the  patent  of 
the  lords  and  gentlemen  mentioned  in  the  patent  of  Squamscot, 
or  in  any  gi-ant  formerlj'  made  to  Dover  by  this  court."  This 
resulted,  no  doubt,  in  fixing  the  location  of  the  line  between  the 
eastern  extremity  of  Exeter  and  Hampton,  but  not  of  that  dividing 
the  two  towns  farther  to  the  westward. 


114  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

THE   HAMPTON   BOUND    OF    1653. 

On  the  fourteenth  of  October,  1651,  Hampton  petitioned  the 
General  Court  for  a  committee  to  lay  out  the  west  end  of  the 
bounds  of  their  township,  and  Samuel  Winslow,  Thomas  Bradbury 
and  Robert  Pike  were  appointed  for  the  purpose.  Thereupon,  the 
people  of  Exeter,  wishing  to  adjust  all  matters  of  boundary  which 
were  in  dispute  with  their  neighbors,  on  the  twenty-ninth  day  of 
December  following,  gave  authority  to  Samuel  Dudley,  Edward 
Hilton,  Pxlward  Oilman,  John  Legat  and  Humphrey  Wilson,  to 
"make  an  agreement  with  Hampton  and  Dover  about  the  bounds 
of  the  town,  or  to  petition  to  the  General  Court  about  it  if  they 
cannot  agree  with  the  other  towns."  And  on  May  10,  1652, 
having  then  probably  received  notice  of  the  appointment  of  the 
commissioners  by  the  General  Court  in  the  preceding  October, 
the  town  chose  Samuel  Dudley,  Edward  Hilton,  Edward  Oilman 
and  Thomas  King,  to  meet  with  those  commissioners  "to  lay  out 
the  bounds  between  us  and  Hampton,  to  agitate  and  conclude 
with  them,  or  to  make  then-  objections  according  to  the  court 
order,  if  they  cannot  agTee." 

On  the  same  day  the  town  requested  Samuel  Dudley  and  Edward 
Oilman  to  "go  to  the  next  General  Court  as  messengers  for  the 
town,  to  treat  with  the  Court  about  the  liberties  and  bounds  of 
our  town,  that  we  be  not  infringed  upon  either  by  Dover  or 
Hampton."  Ten  days  later,  the  town  excused  Mr.  Oilman  from 
the  duty  and  appointed  Edward  Hilton  in  his  stead  ;  and  Mr. 
Dudley  and  John  Legat  were  desired  to  compose  the  petition  to 
send  to  the  said  General  Court.  Samuel  Dudley,  Edward  Hilton, 
Thomas  Pettit,  John  Legat,  Edward  Oilman,  James  Wall, 
Humphrey  Wilson,  Nicholas  Listen  and  Thomas  Cornish,  or  any 
six  of  them,  were  authorized  to  set  their  hands  to  the  petition  in 
behalf  of  the  rest  of  the  town. 

The  report  of  the  commissioners  appointed  by  the  General 
Court  in  October,  1651,  was  returned  on  the  thirtieth  of  Septem- 
ber, 1653,  in  the  following  terms  : 

Mr.  Samuel  Winslow,  Mr.  Thomas  Bradbury  and  Mr.  Robert 
Pike,  being  chosen  by  the  General  Court  to  lay  out  the  west  line 
of  Hampton  bounds,  upon  their  best  information  have  concluded 
that  their  west  line  shall  run  from  the  extent  of  the  line  formerly 
agreed  on,  to  come  within  two  miles  of  Exeter  meeting-house 
upon  a  direct  line  to  that  part  of  Ass  brook  where  the  highway 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  115 

goes  over,  aud  from  thence  upon  a  direct  line  so  as  to  leave  Exeter 
falls  at  the  town  bridge,  a  mile  and  a  half  due  north  of  the  same, 
and  from  thence  upon  a  west  and  by  north  line  as  far  as  the 
utmost  extent  of  Salisbury  bounds  that:  way. 

THE    DOVER    BOUND    OF    W'yS. 

While  the  questions  with  Hampton  were  pending,  Dover,  on  the 
twentieth  of  October,  1652,  petitioned  the  General  Court  to  have 
"their  limits  confirmed  to  them  ;"  and  thereupon,  and  on  the  said 
petition  of  Exeter,  the  General  Court,  on  the  twenty-sixth  of 
October,  of  the  same  year,  appointed  William  Payne,  Samuel 
Winslow  and  MatthcAV  Boyes,  or  the  major  part  of  them,  to  lay 
out  the  bounds  between  the  two  townships,  and  certify  the  court 
and  the  towns  what  they  should  determine. 

Their  report  bore  date  March  9,  1653,  and  was  in  these  words  : 

We  have  determined  and  agreed  that  the  line  formerly  laid  out 

shall  stand,  they  taking  a  point  from  the  middle  of  the  bridge  on 

the  first  fall  on  Lamprey  river,  aud  so  to  run  six  miles  west  and 

by  nortli,  but  the  land  betwixt  the  line  and  the  river  shall  belong 

to  Exeter,  they  not  having  liberty  to  set  up  any  mill  except  the 

right  specified  on  the  first  fall,  but  the  timber  betwixt  the  line  and 

the  river  shall  belong  to  Dover  in  such  time  as  they  shall  see  meet 

to  make  use  of  the  same  to  their  best   advantage  ;  provided  that 

both   the  towns    shall  have  full  liberty  to  make  use  of  the  river 

upon  all  occasions  [as  ?]  before.    Exeter  hath  liberty  to  make  use 

of  all  the  timber  half  a  mile  between  the  line  and  Lamprey  river 

towards  the  bridge,  and  one  mile  between  the  line  and  the  said 

river  towards  the  second  fall,  and  for  these  Mr.  Edward  Hilton  is 

to  have  belonging  to  his  mill  all  the  timber  within  compass  of  one 

mile  and  a  half  square,  if  it  be  to  be  had  betAvixt  the  line  and  the 

river  Lamprey. 

William  Payne, 

Samuel  Winslow, 

Matthew^  Botes. 

Such  remained  the  dividing  line,  in  substance,  between  Dover 
and  Exeter  for  the  next  fourteen  years.  In  1657  representatives 
of  the  two  towns,  Valentine  Hill,  John  Bickford,  Sr.  and  William 
Furber  for  the  former,  and  Edward  Hilton  and  John  Oilman  for 
the  latter,  "  settled  the  bounds  "  by  marking  the  line  ;  and  agreed 


116  HISTOKY  OF  EXETER. 

upon  the  enjoyment  that  each  should  have,  of  the  border  land. 
Nothing  further  was  done  so  far  as  is  known,  till  Exeter  asked 
for  the  enlargement  of  her  territory  in  1667. 

CAPTAIN    THOMAS    WIGGIN's    DEED    OF    GIFT. 

In  the  order  of  time  the  next  change  of  bounds  of  Exeter  was 
occasioned  by  the  gift  to  the  town  by  Thomas  Wiggin  in  or  before 
1656,  of  a  tract  of  land  one  mile  in  breadth,  from  the  southern 
end  of  the  Squamscot  patent.  The  occasion  of  this  gift  is  now 
unknown.  Wiggin  is  described  in  connection  with  it,  as  agent  of 
the  proprietors  of  the  southern  division  of  the  patent,  so  that  the 
act  may  have  been  performed  in  their  behalf.  Or,  as  Wiggin  was 
apparently  dilatory  in  paying  to  Exeter  his  minister's  tax,  it  is 
possible  that  the  gift  had  some  relation  to  that.  The  land  was 
bounded  as  follows  :  beginning  at  the  falls  of  the  Squamscot, 
thence  running  northerly  by  the  salt  river  to  the  mouth  of  Wheel- 
wright's creek ;  thence  southeasterly  to  the  line  of  Hampton  ; 
thence  by  the  line  of  Hampton  and  of  Exeter  to  the  bound  begun 
at.  The  town  of  Exeter,  in  order  that  there  might  be  no  uncer- 
tainty about  the  title  or  jurisdiction  of  their  new  acquisition,  on 
the  twenty-eighth  of  April,  1656,  ordered  that  a  petition  be  pre- 
sented to  the  next  General  Court  that  Captain  Wiggin's  deed  of 
gift  to  the  town,  of  land  and  meadow,  might  be  confirmed  to 
them ;  and  that  Mr.  Bartholomew  of  Ipswich  be  employed  to 
present  the  petition.  It  happened  by  a  fortunate  coincidence  that 
Mr.  Bartholomew  was  a  member  of  the  committee  appointed  by 
the  General  Court  to  make  partition  among  the  several  proprietors 
of  the  Squamscot  patent,  of  which  the  land  in  question  was  a 
part ;  and  in  the  return  of  the  committee,  May  22,  1656,  the  gift 
was  recited  and  confirmed. 

On  the  thirtieth  of  March,  1668,  the  town  deputed  John  Oilman, 
John  Folsom,  Sr.,  Jonathan  Thing,  Ralph  Hall  and  John  Warren, 
to  lay  out  the  line  between  the  Shrewsbury  (division  of  the 
Squamscot)  patent  then  held  by  Richard  Scammon  and  the  terri- 
tory of  Exeter  adjoining  the  same,  with  the  consent  of  the  said 
Scammon.  It  appears  that  Hampton  laid  some  claim  to  the  land 
given  by  Captain  Wiggin,  as  above  mentioned,  for  when,  on  the 
thii'tieth  of  March,  1670,  a  portion  of  it  was  granted  to  Edward 
Oilman,  Peter  Folsom,  John  Young,  Edward  Smith,  Thomas 
Rollins,  Jeremy  Leavitt,  Jonathan  Thing,  Jr.  and   John  Clark, 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  117 

the  grantees  were  required  to  bind  themselves  in  the  sum  of  ten 
pounds  each  to  the  town,  to  try  the  title  of  their  lands  with  the 
town  of  Hampton,  if  need  should  require. 

ENLARGEMENT    OF    EXETER    BOUNDS. 

No  further  controversy  in  regard  to  the  extent  of  the  town 
appears  to  have  arisen  until  March  15,  1667,  when  John  Oilman 
was  empowered  "  to  petition  the  General  Court  for  an  enlargement 
of  the  bounds  of  the  town,  and  to  prosecute  the  business  ;  and  to 
procure  Captain  Hubbard  or  Josiah  Hubbard  to  assist  him  if  he 
sees  it  needful."  The  petition  was  duly  presented,  and  on  May 
15,  1667,  the  court  ordered  that  Richard  AYaldron,  Robert  Pike 
and  Samuel  Dalton,  as  a  committee,  should  view  the  land  desired 
by  the  petitioners,  and  make  return  at  the  next  session.  The 
report  of  the  committee  bore  date  the  eighth  of  October,  1667, 
and  was  in  these  words  : 

We  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed  being  appointed  by 
the  honored  Oeneral  Court  to  view  and  consider  of  the  bounds  of 
the  township  of  Exeter  and  to  make  return  to  the  next  session  of 
the  court,  two  of  us  having  taken  a  survey  of  the  lands  about  their 
town  and  the  bounds  of  other  towns  adjacent. 

We  whose  names  are  underwritten  do  judge  that  the  bounds  of 
the  town  of  P^xeter  shall  extend  northward  to  Lamprey  river,  and 
from  the  first  fall  in  Lamprey  river  six  miles  upon  a  west  and  by 
north  line  adjoining  to  Dover  bounds  as  they  are  laid  out  and 
confirmed,  and  then  two  miles  further  upon  the  same  point  of  the 
compass,  that  to  be  their  north  bounds  ;  and  from  the  foot  of 
Exeter  falls  by  the  present  grist-mill  a  mile  and  a  half  due  south 
to  Hampton  bounds,  and  from  that  south  point  to  run  upon  a  west 
and  by  north  line  ten  miles  into  the  woods  adjoining  to  Hampton 
bounds,  that  to  be  their  south  bounds  ;  and  so  from  the  end  of 
that  line  upon  a  straight  line  over  the  land  to  meet  with  the  other 
line  on  the  north  that  extendeth  from  Dover  bounds,  that  to  be 
their  head  line,  westward,  and  Squamscot  patent  to  be  their  east 
bounds. 

Samuel  Dalton, 
Richard  Walderne. 

Though  I  could  not  by  reason  of  straitness  of  time  make  a 
full  view  of   all  the  lands  above  mentioned,  yet  from  what  I  do 


118  HISTOKY  OF  EXETEK. 

know  of  it,  together  with  that  information  that  I  have  liad  of  those 
that  do  well  know  of  the  quality  of  the  rest  of  the  land,  do  judge 
that  the  bounds  above  mentioned  may  be  just  and  reasonable,  and 
do  concur  in  subscription. 

Robert  Pike. 

The  substantial  change  made  by  this  report  was  to  give  to 
Dover  the  tract  of  land  south  of  Lamprey  river  and  between  that 
river  and  the  west  and  by  north  line  prescribed  by  the  commission 
of  16o3,  being  an  area  of  some  eight  or  ten  square  miles,  and  to 
add  to  Exeter  a  belt  of  about  two  miles  in  width  along  the  whole 
western  end  of  the  township,  making,  perhaps,  fifteen  square  miles 
of  territory.  The  report  of  the  committee  was  confirmed  by  the 
General  Court,  with  the  proviso  "  that  all  pine  trees  fit  for  masts, 
which  are  twenty- four  inches  diameter  and  upwards,  within  three 
foot  of  the  ground,  that  grow  above  three  miles  from  the  meeting- 
house where  it  now  stands,  in  any  place  within  the  bounds  of  said 
town  (Exeter) ,  are  hereby  reserved  for  the  public ;  and  if  any 
person  or  persons  shall  presume  to  fell  down  any  such  pine  tree  fit 
for  masts,  he  or  they  shall  forfeit  ten  pounds  for  every  tree  ;  the 
one-half  to  the  informer,  and  the  other  half  to  the  public  treasury 
of  the  country." 

It  remained  only  to  mark  upon  the  ground  the  lines  thus 
described,  and  the  town  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  March,  1668, 
chose  John  Oilman,  Jonathan  Thing,  John  Folsom,  8r.  and 
Moses  Gilman  to  run  the  line  between  the  two  meeting-houses  of 
Hampton  and  Hxeter ;  Jonathan  Thing,  Robert  Smart,  Ralph 
Hall,  John  Folsom,  Sr.  and  Nicholas  Listen  to  run  the  line 
between  Dover  and  Exeter;  and  John  Folsom,  Sr.,  John  Folsom, 
Jr.,  Jonathan  Thing,  William  Moore  and  Moses  Gilman  to  run  the 
west  and  by  north  line  between  Hampton  and  Exeter. 

For  some  cause  a  good  deal  of  delay  occurred  in  performing  the 
work,  and  on  the  twenty-second  of  February,  1670-1,  the  town 
added  to  the  last  committee  Ralph  Hall,  Nicholas  Listen  and  John 
Gilman,  who  were  empowered  to  run  the  line  between  Hampton 
and  Exeter  "  according  to  the  court  order,  that  is,  to  begin  at  the 
bound  tree  at  Ass  brook  and  so  upon  a  direct  line  so  as  to  leave 
Exeter  falls  a  mile  and  a  half  due  north  of  the  same,  and  from 
thence  upon  a  west  and  by  north  line  to  the  extent  of  ten  miles  ; 
and  what  these  men  or  a  major  part  of  them  shall  do,  shall  stand 
in  as  good  force  as  if  the  whole  town  were  present." 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  119 

But  the  work  went  on  at  a  snail's  pace,  if  it  went  on  at  all. 
The  duty  was  perhaps  not  an  agreeable  one,  and  the  committee 
were  reluctant  to  act,  and  on  the  tenth  of  July,  1671,  the  town 
took  up  the  subject  anew.  Philip  Cartee,  Christian  DoUoff  and 
John  Folsom,  Sr.  were  chosen  "to  make  an  end  of  measuring" 
the  line  between  Hampton  and  Exeter ;  Nicholas  Smith,  John 
Bean,  John  Young  and  John  Folsom,  Sr.  were  designated  to  run 
the  line  between  Exeter  falls  and  Lamprey  river  falls.  "If  any  of 
these  men  refuse  to  go,  he  is  to  pay  ten  shillings."  John  Gilman, 
Jonathan  Thing,  William  Moore,  Ralph  Hall,  Moses  Gilman, 
Nicholas  Listen,  Samuel  Leavitt,  Peter  Folsom,  Robert  Smart  and 
John  Folsom,  Sr.  were  chosen  to  run  the  line  between  Dover  and 
Exeter,  with  power  to  a  major  part  of  them  to  determine  the 
same. 

But  the  end  was  not  yet.  On  the  twenty-ninth  of  April,  1672, 
the  town  gave  to  Samuel  Dudley,  Ralph  Hall  and  John  Gilman, 
"full  power  to  agree  with  Hampton  men  about  all  differences  that 
may  be  between  the  inhabitants  of  Hampton  and  Exeter  concern- 
ing lands."  Under  this  authority  it  is  probable  that  the  long 
pending  questions  of  town  lines  were  finally  adjusted,  and  to  the 
substantial  satisfaction  of  the  parties  concerned. 

It  took  a  little  longer  to  put  a  quietus  on  the  difference  with  the 
people  of  Dover.  On  the  twenty-fifth  of  March,  1672,  the  select- 
men of  that  town  and  the  selectmen  of  Exeter  agreed,  in  behalf  of 
their  respective  towns,  to  refer  "  the  difference  between  them  about 
Lamprey  [river  point]  "  to  the  arbitrament  of  Robert  Pike,  Samuel 
Daltou  and  John  AVincol.  This  probably  related  to  the  gore  of 
land  northerly  of  Lamprey  river  and  between  the  first  fall  thereon 
and  the  Great  Bay,  claimed  by  Exeter,  and  still  retained  by  New- 
market as  successor  to  Exeter.  The  report  of  the  arbitrators  has 
not  been  found,  but  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  it  sustained  the 
claim  of  Exeter. 

No  question  of  boundary  appears  to  have  arisen  again  between 
the  towns  until  1679,  when  on  March  11  the  town  resolved  that 
"  in  answer  to  Major  Waldron's  request  of  some  of  our  town  to 
come  and  meet  with  some  of  their  town  (Dover)  in  reference  to 
the  running  of  the  line  between  us,  and  for  a  final  agreement  of 
the  same,  it  is  agreed  by  the  town  that  they  will  not  any  otherwise 
run  the  line  or  agree  with  the  town  of  Dover,  but  as  the  line  is 
already  run  by  the  town  of  Exeter."  A  rebuff  so  pointed  as  this 
seems  to  have  silenced  the  worthy  Major,  for  nothing  further  is 


120  niSTOKY  OF  EXETEK. 

heard  of  the  subject  for  a  long  period.  At  length,  on  the  six- 
teenth of  January,  1710-11,  the  town  of  Exeter  took  final  action 
upon  it  by  appointing  Nicholas  Gilman,  Jonathan  Wadleigh  and 
Jonathan  Thing,  a  committee  "to  procure  the  settlement  of  the 
line  between  Dover  and  Exeter  out  of  any  otiice,  and  to  new  run 
the  line  if  occasion  be." 

As  this  boundary  line  was  settled  in  1(367  so  it  has  substantially 
remained  to  this  day.  If  it  has  been  the  subject  of  later  conten- 
tion, the  original  parties  have  long  ceased  to  be  interested  in 
it,  for  the  northern  section  of  Exeter  became  Newmarket  in 
1727,  and  the  southern  section  of  Dover  became  Durham  in  1738. 

SQUAMSCOT    PATENT    UNDER    EXETER    GOVERNMENT. 

The  Squamscot  patent,  situated  mostly  on  the  eastern  side  of 
the  Squamscot  river  and  Great  Bay,  was,  in  1656,  divided  under 
the  authority  of  Massachusetts  into  three  shares.  With  the  first 
(northern)  division,  Exeter  history  has  nothing  to  do.  The  second 
(middle)  division  was  assigned  to  Thomas  Wiggin  and  his  partners. 
The  third  (southern)  division  was  awarded  to  a  company  known, 
from  the  place  of  their  residence  in  England,  as  "  the  Shrewsbury 
men."  Of  this  company  Wiggin  was  then  the  agent,  and  from 
the  southern  part  of  this  division  he  gave  a  strip  of  land  a  mile  in 
width  to  the  town  of  Exeter.  The  second  and  the  third  division 
thus  curtailed  compose  substantially  the  present  town  of  Stratham. 

AViggin  had  been  living  at  Sandy  point  near  the  northern  ex- 
tremity of  the  middle  division,  probably  from  the  ver}^  foundation 
of  the  P^xeter  settlement.  His  name  occurs  frequently  in  the 
Exeter  records,  as  if  he  w^ere  regarded  in  the  light  of  an  inhabi- 
tant. It  is  evident  that  he  was  rated  in  the  town  for  the  support 
of  the  ministry,  though  he  was  somewhat  dilatory  in  payment. 
Possibly  he  may  have  thought  that  the  Exeter  assessments  were 
onerous,  and  that  he  would  fare  better  if  assigned  to  another  place. 
However,  on  the  sixth  of  May,  1657,  the  Massachusetts  General 
Court,  in  an  order  which  recited  that  "  his  land  and  property  had 
not  as  yet  been  brought  within  the  limits  of  any  town,  nor  been 
liable  to  pay  taxes  and  assessments  as  others  of  our  honored  mag- 
istrates have  done,"  required  that  "his  dwelling  house,  with  all 
the  lands  and  proprieties  thereto  appertaining,  shall  belong  to  the 
town  of  Hampton,  and  by  the  selectmen  of  the  said  town  to  be 
assessed  in  all  rates  according  to  law,  any  law  or  usage  to  the 
contrary  notwithstanding." 


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HISTOHY  OF  EXETEH.  121 

Thereafter,  not  only  Wiggin's  estate,  but  presumably  all  the 
taxable  estates  in  that  portion  of  the  Squamscot  patent,  were 
assessed  in  Hampton  until  November  28,  16!)2,  when  it  was  ordered 
by  the  president  and  council  of  the  province  of  New  Hampshire 
that  "the  inhabitants  of  Squamscot,  within  this  province,  begin- 
ning from  Mr.  Thomas  Wiggin's  at  Sandy  point  and  upwards, 
shall  be  rated  by  the  selectmen  of  Exeter  to  all  public  assessments  ; 
also  that  they  be  under  the  command  of  the  militia  of  Exeter  until 
further  orders." 

This  enactment  continued  in  force  for  more  than  twenty-three 
years.  Its  effect  was  to  unite  the  inhabitants  of  the  two  contigu- 
ous precincts  under  the  same  town  government.  The  citizens  of 
each  were  vested  with  the  same  rights,  and  subject  to  the  same 
liabilities.  They  all  took  part  in  town  meetings  and  were  equally 
eligible  to  town  offlces.  A  fair  proportion  of  the  municipal  officers 
were  selected  from  each  territory.  But  as  the  population  of 
Squamscot  patent  increased,  the  desire  naturally  grew  up  among 
the  inhabitants  to  be  incorporated  into  a  town  by  themselves. 
Their  remoteness  from  church  and  school,  to  which  they  had  to 
contribute  their  share  of  the  cost,  was  an  unanswerable  argument 
in  favor  of  their  wish,  and  after  some  disagreement  among  them- 
selves on  the  subject,  they  were  incorporated  with  town  privileges 
under  the  name  of  Stratham  by  a  charter  dated  March  20,  1716. 
This,  of  course,  terminated  their  connection  with  Exeter. 


TOWNSHIPS    CARVED    FROM    EXETER   TERRITORY. 

Since  that  time  Exeter  has  lost  about  three-fourths  of  its  area 
by  new  townships  successively  set  off  from  it.  The  history  of  the 
several  earlier  partitions  will  be  found  in  the  ecclesiastical  portion 
of  this  work,  as  the  towns  were  originally  detached  in  the  form  of 
parishes. 

Newmarket  was  taken  from  Exeter  December  15,  1727.  South 
Newmarket  was  set  off  from  Newmarket  June  27,  1849. 

Epping  was  taken  from  Exeter  February  23,  1741. 

Brentwood  was  taken  from  Exeter  June  26,  1742  ;  Poplin  was 
severed  from  Brentwood  June  22,  1764,  and  its  name  was  changed 
to  Fremont  July  8,  1854. 

Exeter  now  contains  a  little  short  of  seventeen  square  miles  of 
land,  not  a  twentieth  part  of  the  quantity  which  the  deed  of  the 
Indian  sagamores  purported  to  grant. 


122  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

HIGHWAYS,    THEIR    LOCATIOX,    LAYING    OUT    AND    REPAIRS. 

It  would  be  interesting,  if  it  were  practicable,  to  trace  the  origin 
and  history  of  the  various  roads  in  and  about  Exeter.  But  for  the 
first  century  most  of  them  were  opened  without  any  public  author- 
ity that  can  now  be  discovered,  and  many  were  as  unceremoniously 
discontinued  when  they  ceased  to  be  needed.  Only  the  fittest 
survived. 

The  river  was  the  first  great  highway,  so  far  as  it  would  serve 
as  such.  Each  dweller  on  its  banks  had  his,  canoe,  and  boats  of 
burden  were  abundant.  Every  road  terminated  or  connected  with 
its  landings.  Where  there  was  no  water  way,  but  there  was 
frequent  need  of  communication,  as  with  the  neighboring  village 
of  Hampton,  a  land  way  had  to  be  provided.  But  as  the  travel 
for  several  generations  was  chiefly  on  horseback,  the  roads  were 
little  more  than  bridle  paths.  They  are  referred  to  as  such  in  the 
earlier  records,  as  "  the  path  towards  Hampton,"  "  the  Salisbury 
path,"  and  the  like. 

In  the  opposite  direction  wider  thoroughfares  were  needed  for 
the  convenience  of  hauling  lumber  to  the  landing  places  on  the 
river.  We  find  early  mention,  for  example,  of  "the  mast-way," 
leading  in  the  direction  of  Eppiug,  a  chief  use  of  which  was 
indicated  by  its  name  ;  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  wood-paths, 
passable  by  sleds  and  wheels,  were  rudely  constructed  to  the 
northern  and  western  sections  of  the  township.  The  great  im- 
portance and  value  of  the  lumber  business  demanded  them. 

The  need  of  maintaining  suitable  roads  in  the  town  was  fully 
recognized  from  the  beginning.  A  vote  of  February  1,  1640-1, 
referred  to  a  former  order  (not  preserved)  that  highways  were  to 
be  at  least  three  poles  in  width  ;  and  required  that  since  they  had 
become  narrowed  in  various  places,  they  should  be  rectified  and 
made  of  full  breadth  betwixt  that  time  and  the  middle  of  April, 
1642. 

On  June  17,  1644,  it  was  agreed  at  a  town  meeting  that  four 
days  should  be  set  apart  to  mend  the  highways,  "to  begin  on  the 
fourth  day  of  the  week  come  a  sevennight ;"  that  the  inhabitants 
should  be  at  their  labors  at  six  and  leave  at  twelve,  then  rest  till 
two,  and  work  till  six  o'clock  ;  and  such  as  might  be  absent  should 
be  fined  five  shillings  for  every  day  ;  and  they  that  had  teams 
should  work  them,  upon  the  penalty  of  twenty  shillings  for  every 
day's  neglect,  until  the  four  days  should  be  expired.  When  the 
scarcity  and  relatively  greater  value  of  money  at  that  period  are 


HISTORY  OF  EXETEK.  123 

considered,  the  penalty  for  non-appearance  which  the  people  im- 
posed upon  themselves,  seems  enormous,  and  shows  the  sacrifices 
they  were  willing  to  undergo  in  order  to  provide  their  town  with 
suitable  thoroughfares. 

The  earliest  record  of  the  appointment  of  officers  to  superintend 
the  highways  is  dated  November  24,  1650.  Abraham  Drake  and 
John  Legat  were  chosen  to  view  the  highway,  and  to  give  Henry 
Roby  liberty  to  enlarge  his  garden  out  of  it,  but  to  restore  the 
liighway  to  its  usual  breadth  out  of  his  lot ;  and  so  Edward  Gilman 
and  others,  provided  that  tlie  highways  be  not  made  worse  than 
they  then  were. 

On  the  first  of  September,  1651,  PMward  Gilman  was  chosen 
surveyor  of  the  highways  for  the  year,  ' '  to  call  forth  laborers  for 
the  work  and  give  directions."  In  1652,  April  20,  James  Wall, 
John  Legat  and  Thomas  King  were  appointed  to  view  the  high- 
ways, to  see  that  they  were  not  reduced  in  width,  and  were  author- 
ized to  pull  up  fences  that  encroached  on  them,  or  that  stopped  up 
any  common  places  of  access  to  the  river  side. 

At  a  town  meeting  January  21,  1660-1,  Thomas  King  and  John 
Warren  were  appointed  to  call  upon  Hampton  for  laying  out  of  a 
county  way  between  Exeter  and  Hampton. 

At  the  time  of  the  election  of  selectmen  in  1660,  their  powers 
were  very  fully  defined,  but  they  were  forbidden,  among  other 
things,  to  lay  out  new  highways.  In  1664,  October  10,  the  town 
gave  authority  to  Thomas  King,  John  Folsom,  Sr.  and  John  Rob- 
inson to  lay  out  highways  where  they  should  judge  convenient. 

On  the  third  of  April,  1671,  Moses  Gilman  and  Samuel  Leavitt 
were  elected  surveyors  of  the  highways,  and  it  was  ordered  that 
whoever  of  the  inhabitants  should  fail  to  come  into  the  highways 
to  work  at  such  time  as  they  should  appoint,  should  forfeit  five 
shillings  for  every  day's  neglect,  to  be  distrained  upon  by  the 
constable  forthwith. 

It  was  ordered  by  the  town  August  30,  1671,  that  there  should 
be  sufficient  room  for  "  a  loaden  cart  to  pass  in  all  highways,  and 
whosoever  shall  block  up  the  highways  so  as  a  cart  cannot  con- 
veniently pass,  or  what  timber  shall  be  dangerous,  shall  be 
forfeited  to  the  town,  and  the  constable  forthwith  to  take  it  away 
by  distress."  There  seems  a  little  confusion  of  ideas  in  the  order ; 
it  could  hardly  have  been  intended  that  the  person  blocking  the 
highways  should  be  forfeited  to  the  town  and  taken  by  distress. 

In  1675  a  surveyor  of  highways  for  each  side  of  the  river  was 
chosen,  and  for  several  years  that  method  was  annually  pursued. 


124  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

BRIDGES. 

The  earliest  mention  of  a  bridge  in  the  records  of  the  town  is 
upon  May  19,  1644,  when  it  was  determined  that  the  townsmen 
should  procure  a  bridge  over  Lamprey  river.  This  was  while  that 
river  was  understood  by  the  inhabitants  to  be  wholly  within  the 
limits  of  Exeter.  Before  the  resolution  was  carried  into  effect, 
however,  the  town  became  apprised  of  the  claim  of  Dover  that 
Lamprey  river  had  been  authoritatively  fixed  upon  as  the  general 
boundary  between  that  township  and  Exeter  ;  and  then  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  latter  ordered,  January  27,  1644-5,  that  Anthony 
Stauyan  and  James  Wall  should  go  to  Lamprey  river  to  meet  with 
"  the  men  of  Dover  to  consult,  conclude  and  bargain  with  them 
concerning  the  making  of  a  bridge  over  the  said  river."  If 
Dover  were  to  have  the  land  to  the  river,  then  it  was  just  that  she 
should  pay  her  share  for  bridging  it.  In  1647  both  towns  were 
fined  for  neglect  to  keep  a  bridge  there,  Dover  five  pounds,  but 
Exeter  only  thirty  shillings.  It  is  not  known  whether  the  court 
assumed  to  adapt  the  penalties  to  their  respective  degrees  of  de- 
linquency. 

In  all  probability  the  first  bridge  erected  in  the  town  was  that 
across  the  fresh  river,  just  above  the  falls,  where  the  "great 
bridge"  now  is.  That  was  most  immediately  necessary  to  accom- 
modate the  residents  on  either  side  of  the  river,  and  for  the  com- 
munication between  Exeter  and  Hampton,  which  was  not  inconsid- 
erable. At  first  the  bridge  was  only  suitable  for  passengers  on 
foot  or  on  horseback,  and  it  was  not  until  it  had  become  a  part 
of  the  ''covrnty  way,"  that  it  was  widened  sufficiently  to  accom- 
modate carts.  In  1675,  the  County  Court  ordered  that  the  town 
of  Exeter  should  make  "their  'boom'  six  foot  wide  within  the 
rail,  and  raise  it  on  both  sides  sufficiently ;  to  be  finished  by  the 
next  Hampton  Court  upon  the  penalty  of  ten  pounds."  It  is 
rather  mortifying  to  add  that  the  required  improvements  were  not 
made,  and  the  penalty  was  incurred.  The  court,  however,  was 
lenient,  and  allowed  further  time,  being  well  aware  that  such  public 
exactions  were  heavy  burdens  upon  the  struggling  frontier  settle- 
ments. 

As  early  as  1693,  this  had  acquired  the  designation  of  "great" 
bridge,  by  which  it  has  been  ever  since  known.  This  name  in- 
dicated that  there  was  then  at  least  one  other  bridge,  and  of  less 
dimensions.  In  1708,  May  30,  the  town  resolved  that  the  great 
bridge  be  made  a  horse  bridge,  wide  enough  for  two  horses  to  pass 


HISTORY  0¥  EXETER.  125 

"on  breast."  The  other  bridge,  which  by  contrast,  gave  the 
foi'mer  its  distinctive  name,  was,  without  much  doubt,  the  prede- 
cessor of  the  present  "  string  bridge."  It  was  not  built  all  at  one 
time,  nor  by  a  single  person.  The  earliest  mill  was  situated  on 
the  island  at  the  lower  falls.  The  proprietor  of  it  was  Thomas 
Wilson,  and  after  his  death  his  son,  Humphrey  Wilson.  They 
also  owned  land  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  river,  near  the  mill,  and 
that  part  of  the  river  which  formed  the  channel  between  the  mill 
and  that  shore  was  called  "Wilson's  creek."  No  doubt  a 
"stringer"  was  at  an  early  day  laid  across  the  creek  to  connect 
the  island  with  the  nearest  shore.  Thus  the  inhabitants  would  be 
enabled  to  take  their  grists  to  the  mill  without  the  aid  of  a  boat. 
At  a  later  date.  Captain  John  Oilman  became  the  owner  of  another 
grist-mill  on  the  western  side  of  the  island.  He  naturally  desu-ed 
it  to  be  connected  with  the  western  shore  by  a  bridge  of  his  own  ; 
his  mill  and  the  Wilson  mill  being  rival  establishments.  At  a 
town  meeting  on  the  first  Monday  of  April,  1709,  the  town  gave 
him  all  their  right  to  the  stream  and  the  island  where  his  mill  was, 
"with  the  privilege  for  a  bridge  to  go  on  the  island."  This  led 
to  the  completion  of  the  second  bridge  across  the  river.  It  con- 
sisted for  above  a  century  of  nothing  more  than  one  or  two  timbers 
laid  across  each  of  the  channels  of  the  river,  with  hand  rails  at  the 
side,  so  that  a  man  could  safely  pass  with  a  bag  of  meal  on  his 
shoulder.  It  obtained  the  name  of  "string  bridge"  from  the 
manner  of  its  original  construction,  and  still  retains  it,  though  for 
many  years  past  it  has  been  rebuilt  in  a  substantial  shape,  with 
space  for  carriages  to  pass  each  other  upon  it,  and  a  sidewalk. 

There  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  first  highway  was  made  along 
the  western  bank  of  the  river,  nearly  in  the  line  of  the  present 
Water  street,  leading  from  the  great  bridge  on  the  one  hand,  to 
the  earliest  meeting-house  on  the  other.  This  was  doubtless  what 
is  spoken  of  as  the  "village  street"  in  the  contract  between 
Gowen  Wilson  and  the  town.  May  1,  1649.  The  road  which  led 
from  that  street  near  its  northern  extremity,  westerly  into  the 
interior,  is  mentioned  by  the  name  of  "lane's  end"  in  the  town 
records  as  early  as  1650.  This  was  for  a  hundred  and  fifty  years 
one  of  the  main  avenues  to  the  water  side  ;  and  over  it  was  trans- 
ported a  large  proportion  of  the  original  growth  of  the  forests 
which  covered  many  square  miles  of  the  old  township.  In  later 
times  its  importance  has  dwindled,  and  it  has  assumed  the  pictu- 
resque aspect  of  one  of  the  old  English  couuti'y  lanes,  its  roadway 


12n  HISTORY  OF  EXETEU. 

being  worn  deeply  below  the  surface  level  on  each  side,  and  lined 
by  pollard  trees  and  bushes.  Its  name,  too,  has  undergone  trans- 
formations. It  appears  on  the  town  plan  of  1846  as  "  Back  street," 
and  on  that  of  1874  as  "Park  street,"  but  it  is  popularly  known 
as  "  Katy's  lane "  from  the  residence  there  of  a  colored  woman 
whose  Christian  name  adhered  to  it  by  natural  affinity. 

Roads  to  Hampton,  to  Stratham  and  to  Salisbury,  to  those  parts 
of  the  township  Avhich  were  afterwards  set  off  as  Newmarket, 
Epping  and  Brentwood,  and  to  Kingston,  were  undoubtedly  in  use 
long  before  the  year  1700. 

On  the  fourth  of  March,  1658-9,  it  was  ordered  by  the  town 
that  Thomas  King  and  his  partners  in  the  mill  set  up  about  three 
miles  up  the  river,  should  have  liberty  to  build  a  bridge  and  make 
a  highway,  over  which  others  might  pass  on  foot,  or  on  horseback, 
or  drive  cattle  ;  but  in  case  others  made  use  of  it  in  the  way  of 
carting,  they  should  make  a  proportionate  allowance  to  the  said 
partners,  according  to  their  use.  This  was  probably  the  authority 
for  building  what  were  called  the  "neck  road"  and  "King's 
bridge."  That  territory  which  was  included  between  the  Exeter 
fresh  river  and  Little  river  was  known  by  the  name  of  "the  neck." 
It  was  crossed  by  this  road  in  a  southwesterly  direction.  The 
original  names  of  the  road  and  of  the  bridge  are  still  familiar  to 
old  residents,  but  to  the  present  generation  the  way  is  better 
known  as  the  road  to  East  Kingston. 

THE    VILLAGE    STREETS. 

The  thoroughfare  now  termed  "Front  street"  received  in  the 
original  nomenclature  of  the  town  ways,  ninety  years  ago,  the 
name  of  "Fore  street,"  afterwards  that  of  "  Coui't  street,"  and 
finally  the  present  designation.  It  probably  had  nothing  that 
could  be  properly  called  sidewalks  before  the  year  1807.  A  paper 
is  still  extant  bearing  date  in  that  year  containing  subscriptions 
for  "defraying  the  expense  of  making  a  gi'avel  walk  with  posts, 
rails,  etc.,  in  Court  street,"  the  amount  of  which  was  eighty  dollars 
and  twenty  cents.  The  names  of  the  pu])lic  spirited  subscribers 
deserve  to  be  preserved.  They  were  Phillips  Exeter  Academy, 
John  T.  Gilman,  Oliver  Peabody,  Nathaniel  Oilman,  Nicholas 
Oilman,  Oeorge  Sullivan,  Jeremiah  Smith  and  Samuel  Tenne3\ 

The  avenues  which  connect  Front  and  Water  streets  are  of 
later  date.  Spring  street  was  laid  out  in  1730,  Centre  street  in 
1734,  and  Academy  street,  which,  by  reason  of  its  manufactories 


HISTOKY  OF  EXETER.  127 

of  leather,  long  bore  the  euphonious  title  of  "Tan  lane,"  was  not 
opened  till  still  later.  The  road  along  the  eastern  shore  of  the 
river  was  not  formally  laid  out  till  1739,  though  there  can  be  little 
doubt  that  it  had  been  used  by  the  public  as  a  way  to  the  mills 
and  to  the  water  side  for  three-fourths  of  a  century  before  at 
least.  In  fact,  as  already  intimated,  the  early  roads  appear  to 
have  been  made  and  unmade,  just  according  to  the  varying  needs 
of  the  people,  without  the  aid  of  engineers,  and  irrespective  of 
direction  or  grades.  The  consequence  is  that  in  the  older  parts 
of  the  town  there  is  scarcely  a  furlong  of  highway  built  on  a 
straight  line.  This  circumstance  undoubtedly  contributes  greatly 
to  the  picturesqueness  of  the  place.  Rectangular  streets  are  con- 
venient, but  they  are  anything  but  beautiful. 

None  of  the  streets  in  the  village  southerly  of  Front  street  and 
of  that  part  of  Water  street  between  the  two  bridges  are  much 
above  half  a  century  old.  Court,  Franklin  and  Pine  streets,  and 
their  connections,  were  laid  out  across  fields,  but  Elm  street  had 
its  germ  in  Moulton's  lane,  and  Elliott  street  in  Whitefield's  lane. 
Those  lanes  led  to  the  dwellings  of  persons  bearing  those  names 
respectively.  Lincoln  and  Garfield  streets,  as  their  names  would 
indicate,  are  still  more  recent. 

The  records  of  the  town  and  of  the  courts  show  that  in  the 
earlier  times,  the  highways  were  sometimes  suffered  to  fall  into 
sad  disrepair,  and  to  become  inconvenient  or  unsafe  for  travel  by 
reason  of  incumbrances.  For  example,  "meeting-house  hill," 
whose  sloping  side  formed  an  easy  chute  for  logs  into  the  river, 
was  used  from  early  times  as  a  convenient  place  of  deposit  for 
timber.  No  doubt  travellers  were  often  incommoded  by  it,  and  at 
length,  August  30,  1671,  the  town  passed  an  order  that  "whereas 
there  is  likely  to  be  great  damage  by  laying  logs  on  meeting-house 
hill,  by  beating  down  the  banks  of  it,  there  shall  be  no  more  logs 
laid  between  Nicholas  Norris  his  house  and  the  southeast  side  of 
the  hill,  upon  forfeiture  of  what  timber  shall  be  laid  there,  to  be 
fortliwith  seized  on  by  the  constable  for  the  use  of  tlie  town." 

The  open  space  in  front  of  the  present  town  hall,  now  bearing  the 
name  of  Court  square,  was  another  localit}'  tempting  to  cumberers  of 
the  ground.  Near  the  middle  of  the  last  century  a  pound,  which  was 
doubtless  more  useful  than  ornamental,  and  several  small  shops 
had  been  huddled  there,  so  that  not  only  was  the  eye  offended  by 
t'he  sorry  group,  but  the  highway  must  have  been  reduced  to  the 
narrowest  dimensions.  The  need  of  a  site  for  a  court-house 
afforded  occasion,  a  few  years  later,  for  abating  the  nuisance. 


128  HISTORY  OF  EXETEK. 

But  of  all  parts  of  the  town,  Water  street  has  been  the  heaviest 
burden  upon  the  patience  of  travellers  and  highway  surveyors. 
As  late  as  1768,  the  eastern  part  of  it,  between  the  great  and  the 
string  bridge,  was  so  narrow  that  the  selectmen  w^ere  authorized, 
by  a  purchase  of  land  or  otherwise,  to  make  it  sufficient  and  wide 
enough  for  safe  passing.  The  street  was  originally  much  nearer 
the  level  of  the  river  than  it  now  is,  and  has  been  raised  by  con- 
tinually repeated  layers  of  earth  and  gravel,  until  its  present  grade 
is  in  some  parts  several  feet  higher.  The  sub-cellars  of  some  of 
the  business  blocks  are  little,  if  at  all,  below  the  natural  surface 
of  the  ground.  About  the  point  where  the  street  turns  to  the 
north,  it  was  within  the  century  past  so  depressed  that  in  very 
high  tides  the  water  flowed  over  it  to  a  depth  that  admitted  of  the 
passage  of  boats  above  the  roadway  for  a  considerable  distance. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

THE  COMMON  LANDS. 

The  inhabitants  of  Exeter  having  the  absokite  disposal  of  the 
lands  within  the  township,  it  was  to  be  expected  that  numerous 
applications  would  be  made  to  them  for  allotments  therefrom. 
This  was  in  fact  done  to  such  an  extent  that  a  great  part  of  the 
early  records  are  filled  with  grants  of  lands,  and  descriptions 
thereof  by  the  lot  layers  chosen  by  the  town.  The  descriptions 
are  unfortunately  so  vague,  and  refer  to  so  few  permanent  land- 
marks, that  it  is  impossible,  without  a  degree  of  labor  far  out  of 
proportion  with  the  value  of  the  result,  to  fix  the  present  location 
of  most  of  the  earlier  lots.  No  equality  or  rule  of  proportion,  so 
far  as  can  be  perceived,  was  observed  in  making  the  allotments, 
except  in  the  division  of  lands  in  December,  1639,  and  in  the  final 
distribution  ;  but  each  inhabitant  received  as  much  as  the  town 
saw  fit  to  give  him.  No  doubt  the  assignments  were  intended  to 
be  equitable,  in  view  of  the  circumstances  of  each  case,  which 
were  of  course  well  kuown  to  the  voters.  But  it  is  not  remarkable 
that  in  process  of  time  this  method  of  doling  out  the  lands 
created  dissatisfaction,  especially  to  those  who  fancied  that  they 
were  not  treated  so  well  as  others,  which  led  at  length  to  a  general 
division  of  the  residue  of  the  public  domain,  and  almost  literally 
gave  "every  man  a  farm."  This  conclusion,  however,  was  not 
reached  until  nearly  a  century  had  expired.  An  account  of  the 
disposal  of  the  common  lands,  as  brief  as  is  consistent  with  clear- 
ness, is  a  necessary  part  of  this  history. 

When  the  town  was  first  settled  in  1638,  each  person  probably 
chose  such  a  site  for  his  dwelling  as  best  suited  his  convenience, 
with  due  reference  to  the  rights  of  others.  If  any  record  was 
made  of  their  several  holdings  it  has  disappeared.  We  only  know 
that  the  main  settlement  was  near  the  falls  of  the  Squamscot,  and 
on  the  western  side  of  the  river. 

9  129 


130  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

At  the  close  of  the  second  season,  in  December,  1639,  a  system- 
atic distribution  of  certain  uplands,  perhaps  all  that  were  free 
from  the  forest  growth,  and  of  all  the  meadows  and  marshes  lying 
on  the  salt  river,  was  made,  among  all,  with  few  exceptions,  of 
the  inhabitants.  The  details  of  this  transaction  appear  else- 
where.* 

LANDS    OF    EDWARD    AND    WILLIAM    HILTON. 

Before  doing  this,  however,  the  town  designated  the  bounds  of 
Edward  Hilton's  lauds,  which  lay  in  the  present  township  of 
South  Newmarket,  as  follows  :  "his  upland  ground  is  bounded  in 
breadth  from  the  creek  next  from  his  house  towards  Exeter  on 
the  one  side  and  a  certain  point  of  land  OA^er  against  Captain  Wig- 
gins his  house,  between  the  marsh  and  the  upland,  that  his  bounds 
on  the  other  side,  and  it  is  to  extend  into  the  main  the  same  dis- 
tance in  length  as  it  is  in  breadth ;  and  that  he  shall  have  all  the 
meadows  which  he  formerly  occupied  from  his  house  to  the  mouth 
of  Lamprey  river." 

To  these  lands  the  town  laid  no  claim  of  proprietorship.  At  a 
later  period  they  were  alluded  to  in  the  records  as  a  grant  made 
to  Hilton  "by  composition."  It  is  evident  that  he  held  them  by 
vu'tue  of  some  prior  claim ;  whether  by  actual  possession,  or  as 
appurtenant  to  the  "Hilton  patent,"  is  not  known. 

The  town  also  agreed,  on  May  3,  1640,  that  Willam  Hilton 
should  continue  to  enjoy  those  two  marshes  on  Oyster  river  which 
he  then,  and  had  formerly,  possessed,  and  "which  Mr.  Gibbies 
(Gibbons?)  doth  wrongfully  detain  from  him,  with  the  rest  of 
those  marshes  which  formerly  he  hath  made  use  of,  so  far  forth 
as  they  may  be  for  the  public  good  of  this  plantation  ;  and  so  much 
of  the  upland  [adjacent]  to  them  as  shall  be  thought  convenient 
by  the  neighbors  of  Oyster  river  which  are  belonging  to  this 
body." 

GRANTS    OF    TOWN    LANDS. 

Depositions  on  the  files  of  the  old  county  of  Norfolk  show  that 
the  town  at  a  very  early  date  bestowed  upon  Thomas  Wilson  the 
island  in  the  river  at  the  falls,  on  which  his  house  and  grain-mill 
were  situated,  reserving  to  the  inhabitants  only  the  right  to  land 
their  canoes,  and  lay  their  fish  there. 


*  See  Appendix  (I). 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  131 

On  May  6,  1643,  the  town  granted  to  Thomas  Rashleigh  14  or 
16  acres  of  land,  with  the  expectation  probably  that  he  was  to 
make  a  permanent  settlement  there  as  their  minister.  He  remained 
abont  a  year,  and  on  his  departure  the  land  reverted  to  the  town, 
and  was  subsequently  regranted  to  the  Rev.  Samuel  Dudley. 

On  August  21,  of  the  same  year,  a  vote  was  passed  that  any 
inhabitant  who  should  find  a  marsh  of  less  than  twenty  acres, 
might  enjoy  it  as  his  own  forever  ;  if  of  more  than  twenty  acres, 
it  was  to  be  at  the  town's  disposal,  but  the  finder  was  to  have  a 
double  portion  out  of  it. 

From  the  earliest  surviving  book  of  the  town  is  taken  the  fol- 
lowing record  of  such  marshes  : 

Found,  by  Samuel  Greenfield  and  Nathaniel  Boulter,  two  parcels 
lying  westward  from  the  town,  by  estimation  nineteen  acres 
apiece  ;  found  the  first  of  May,  1644.  Granted  at  a  town  meeting 
the  16th  of  11th  month  to  Nathaniel  Boulter  and  Samuel  Greenfield. 

Found,  by  Robert  Booth,  one  parcel  westward  from  the  town, 
by  estimation  thirty  acres,  which  is  in  the  town's  hands  to  be  lotted 
out,  if  Mr.  Wheelwright  doth  not  come  to  live  in  Exeter  again. 

Found,  by  James  Wall  and  Ralph  Hall,  two  parcels,  both  of 
them  by  estimation  three  acres. 

Found,  by  Robert  Hathersaj^,  Thomas  Jones  and  Richard  Bull- 
gar,  two  pieces  of  meadow,  the  fifth  of  August,  1644,  which  lieth 
half  way  up  the  fresh  river,  and  on  both  sides  of  it,  being  the 
same  brook  which  goodman  .  .  .  Said  meadow  lieth  westward 
from  Exeter  some  two  miles,  be  it  more  or  less,  which  is  by  esti- 
mation ten  acres,  be  they  more  or  less,  provided  that  they  do  not 
exceed  twenty  acres. 

Richard  BuUgar  doth  assign  his  part  of  the  aforesaid  meadows 
to  Robert  Hathersay  ;  witness  his  hand. 

Richard  Bullgar. 

On  June  10,  1644,  the  town  made  a  grant  to  Samuel  Greenfield 
of  20  acres;  and  on  June  17,  following,  voted  that  a  tract  of 
marsh  should  be  given  to  the  Rev.  John  Wheelwright,  on  condi- 
tion that  "  he  doth  come  amongst  us  again." 

On  January  16,  1644-5,  the  town  made  grants  as  follows  to 
these  persons  :  Thomas  Biggs  ;  Thomas  Crawley  4  acres,  condi- 
tionally ;  *  Thomas  King ;  John  Legat,  conditionally ;  Thomas 
Marston  80  acres,  "if  he  come  to  live  among  us;"  William 
Moore  ;  Henry  Roby  ;  John  Saunders  ;  John  Smart,  Sr.  10  acres  ; 
Anthony  Stanyan  30  acres. 


♦The  condition  usually  was  that  the  grantee  should  improve  the  land  by  building 
upon  it,  fencing  it,  or  the  like,  within  a  limited  time.  The  number  of  acres  is  btated 
in  all  cases  where  it  is  given  in  the  record. 


132  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

On  the  same  day  it  was  ordered  that  "there  shall  be  500  acres 
of  land  on  the  back  side  of  the  common  field,  and  500  acres  beyond 
Humphrey  Wilson's  great  lot  towards  Hampton,  divided  by  lot 
to  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  according  to  their  ratements." 

It  was  also  ordered  that  "the  flats  between  James  Wall's 
point  and  Thomas  Wight's  old  house  shall  be  divided  out  equally 
to  the  inhabitants  against  whose  lots  it  lies,  and  the  flats  on  the 
other  side  of  the  channel  to  be  divided  to  the  rest  of  the  inhabi- 
tants whose  lots  do  not  but  against  the  flats  on  this  (the  western) 
side,  yet  all  to  lie  in  common  for  fishing,  till  it  be  improved." 

The  following  grants  were  made  by  the  town  in  the  year  1645  : 

January  27,  John  Cram  :  Thomas  Crawley  ;  Godfrey  Dearborn  ; 
Robert  Hersey :  William  Huntington ;  Thomas  Jones ;  John 
Legat ;  Thomas  Pettit ;  Robert  Smith ;  James  Wall ;  Balthasar 
Willix.  April  26,  Edward  Colcord  100  acres.  December  31, 
John  Legat,  ^  acre. 

The  following  grants  were  made  in  1 646  : 

February  5,  Thomas  Biggs  13  acres;  Nathaniel  Boulter.  May 
25,  Francis  Swain  6  acres ;  Goodman  [John]  Smart.  June  8, 
Goodman  [John]  Smart  300  acres. 

The  planting  grounds  of  the  Indians  were  excepted  and  reserved 
to  them  in  the  grant  of  the  Indian  sagamores  to  Wheelwright. 
They  were  probably  small  and  not  numerous.  Inhabitants  were 
forbidden  by  the  town  to  buy  them,  except  with  the  approval  of 
the  townsmen. 

One  such  purchase  is  noted  upon  the  records.  John  Legat  and 
Humphrey  Wilson  on  the  eighth  of  June,  1646,  bought  of  the 
sagamore  a  tract  of  land  containing,  by  estimation,  six  or  seven 
acres,  lying  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  river  by  the  lower  falls, 
where  said  Legat's  and  Wilson's  house  lots  were.  The  bargain 
probably  being  a  fair  one,  the  townsmen  gave  their  written  appro- 
val of  it. 

The  following  grants  were  made  in  1647  : 

February  16,  Mr.  [Anthony]  Stanyan  20  acres.  November 
4,  George  Barlow  40  ;  Nathaniel  Boulter  50 ;  Edward  Oilman 
[Jr.]  ;  Samuel  Greenfield  50 ;  William  Moore  10 ;  Francis 
Swain  and  Nicholas  Swain  100  ;  Richard  Swain  30.  December 
15,  Thomas  Jones  20;  William  Moore  30;  James  Wall,  138; 
Humphrey  Wilson  30. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  133 

The  foUowiuo;  grants  were  made  in  1648  : 


'e  o' 


February  10,  John  Cram  40  acres;  Ralph  Hall  20;  Thomas 
Jones  40;  John  Legat  140;  Thomas  Pettit  40;  Anthony  Stan- 
yan  300  ;  Balthasar  Willix  20.  March  4,  Thomas  Biggs,  Godfrey 
Dearborn,  Thomas  Jones,  50  eacli ;  Henry  Koby  20.  November 
16,  George  Barlow  4;  Mr.  Edward  Gilman  [Jr.]  100;  Christo- 
pher Lawson  100. 

At  the  last  named  date  is  the  first  record  of  the  appointment  of 
lot  layers  :  John  Cram  and  John  Legat. 

On  the  same  day  "it  was  agreed  that  500  acres  of  land  next 
the  two  great  lots  above  mentioned  shall  be  laid  for  a  common 
field,  to  be  fenced  by  the  town,  planting  ground  for  every  man  to 
have  his  equal  share,  that  are  householders." 

It  was  also  agreed  "that  the  remainder  of  that  [plain]  before 
mentioned  to  the  corner  of  John  Cram's  lot  or  Bell  Willix's,  and 
so  unto  the  fresh  river,  shall  be  [laid]  out  for  an  ox  common, 
for  working  cattle  and  steers  and  horses,  for  every  man  to  have 
his  equal  share,  provided  he  do  his  portional  share  of  fencing  by 
the  last  day  of  May  next,  and  those  who  do  not  fence  are  to  have 
no  right  in  said  common." 

The  following  grants  were  made  in  1649  : 

January  12,  Thomas  Biggs  and  John  Bursley  10  acres  each, 
"to  cut  firewood  and  timber;"  Thomas  Cornish  10,  "to  cut  fire- 
wood;" John  Cram  10;  Thomas  King  100;  Nicholas  Listen  10, 
"to  cut  firewood  ; "  James  Wall. 

The  following  grants  were  made  in  1650  : 

March  21,  John  Legat  ^  acre.  June  26,  Samuel  Dudley; 
Gowen  Wilson  conditionally.  August  26,  Abraham  Drake  and 
Nathaniel  Drake  30  each;  Thomas  King  8;  John  Legat  10. 
November  24,  Thomas  Biggs  20  ;  Thomas  Cornish  10  ;  Thomas 
Crawley  5  ;  Ralph  Hall ;  Nicholas  Listen  20 ;  Henry  Roby  10  ; 
Francis  Swain  20 ;  Nicholas  Swain  5 ;  Gowen  Wilson  10. 
December  5,  John  Warren  5. 

COMMON    PLANTING    FIELD. 

On  January  2,  1650-1,  it  was  ordered  by  the  town  "that  there 
shall  be  a  common  field  laid  out  for  planting  ground  beyond  the 


134  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

second  river  from  the  town,  westward  about  two  miles  and  a  half, 
for  every  man  that  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  town  to  have  his  part 
laid  out  by  lot,  and  in  quantity  according  to  his  rate  to  the  minis- 
try bearing  date  the  1  of  the  11  mouth,  1650,  viz.,  for  every  ten 
shillings  which  he  pays  to  have  15  acres  of  land,  laid  out  together 
by  lot,  beginning  at  the  head  of  the  fall  and  so  to  but  upon  the 
river  downward,  and  every  acre  to  be  one  rod  in  breadth,  provided 
that  if  any  man  that  now  is  an  inhabitant  shall  leave  the  town 
before  one  whole  year  after  the  date  hereof  be  expired,  then  he  is 
to  leave  his  lot  to  the  town  again." 

The  following  grants  were  made  in  1651  : 

January  2,  Henry  Roby  60  acres.  February  19,  Samuel  Dudley 
80.     December  29,  Samuel  Dudley,  for  grazing,  etc. 

The  following  grants  were  made  in  1652  : 

April  20,  Samuel  Dudley  100  acres ;  Edward  Oilman  [Jr.]  ; 
John  Legat  100;  John  Robinson,  conditionally;  Robert  Smart. 
May  10,  Thomas  Cornish  40  ;  Samuel  Dudley  100  ;  John  Garland, 
conditionally ;  John  Legat  100 ;  Nicholas  Listen  40 ;  Thomas 
Fettit  40  ;  Francis  Swain  40  and  20  ;  Thomas  Taylor  20  ;  John 
Warren  40  and  20.  May  20,  Thomas  King  100  ;  Thomas  Pettit, 
Jr.  30.  July  8,  Edward  Gilman,  Sr.,  John  Leavitt,*  John 
Oilman  and  Moses  Oilman  200,  "those  of  them  that  come  not 
to  live  with  us  by  the  next  summer  to  forfeit  their  shares  again 
to  the  town." 

On  May  20,  1652,  it  was  ordered  by  the  town  "that  all  the 
land  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  [or  about]  that  northeast  end  of 
the  town  that  is  not  already  granted  out,  shall  continually  lie 
common  for  feeding  and  firewood  and  the  like  use." 

On  November  6,  1652,  "it  was  ordered  and  also  granted  to 
Mr.  Edward  Hilton,  in  regard  that  he  hath  been  at  charge  in 
setting  up  of  a  saw-mill,  that  he  shall  enjoy  for  himself  and  his 
heirs  forever,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  below  his  mill,  with  the  land  and 
timber  belonging  thereunto,  and  also  above  his  mill  a  mile  and  a 
quarter  with  the  land  and  timber  belonging  thereunto.  This  land 
and  timber  is  to  lie  square,  only  on  this  side  of  Piscassock  river 
to  come  about  a  stone's  cast." 


*ltis   l)0Ueved  that  John  Leavitt,  who  was  a  son-in-law  of   Edward   Oilman,  8r., 
never  iived  in  Kxeter.    He  was  of  Hinghaiu,  Massachusetts. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  135 

The  following  grants  were  made  from  1654  to  1661,  inclusive  : 

1654,  February  15,  Nicholas  Listen  20  acres,  conditionally. 

1655,  September  30,  Ralph  Hall  10  acres. 

1657,  January  21,  John  Robinson,  conditionally.  May  11, 
Edward  Hilton,  Jr.  50  acres,  conditionally. 

1659,  March  4,  Samuel  Dudley,  "upon  consideration  of  draw- 
ing out  all  the  grants  in  the  town  book,"  etc.  ;  Joseph,  son  of 
William  Taylor,  40  acres. 

1660,  January  21,  John  Bean  and  Nicholas  Listen  10  acres. 
January  22,  Goodman  [John]  Folsom  ;  Thomas  King  and  Jona- 
than Thing  40  ;  Goodman  [John]  Robinson  10.  June  11,  Good- 
man [John]  Folsom  20  ;  Gowen  Wilson  10. 

1660-1,  March  16,  John  Hilton  30  acres. 

At  the  town  meeting  held  on  the  day  last  named,  it  was  ordered 
"that  though  there  may  be  a  proposition  for  the  giving  of  land, 
yet  from  this  time  forward  there  shall  none  be  granted  till  the 
next  meeting  following  that  on  which  it  was  propounded." 

This  excellent  rule  appears  to  have  checked  the  bestowal  of 
lands  for  a  brief  season,  but  it  broke  forth  again,  three  years 
afterwards,  more  profusely  than  ever  before. 

The  following  grants  were  made  in  1664 : 

January  21,  Philip  Chesley  30  acres,  conditionally.*  October 
10,  John  Bean  30;  Richard  Bray  30;  William  Bromfield  30; 
Arthur  Cham  [or  Cane]  15  ;  Biley  Dudley  50  ;  Samuel  Dudley ; 
Theophilus  Dudley  50  ;  Israel  Folsom  10  ;  John  Folsom,  Sr.  60 
and  20 ;  John  Folsom,  Jr.  20 ;  Nathaniel  Folsom  10 ;  Peter 
Folsom  10  ;  Samuel  Folsom  15  ;  John  Gilman,  Jr.  20  ;  Moses 
Gilman  50  ;  Alexander  Gordon  20  ;  William  Hacket  30  ;  Joseph 
Hall  15;  Ralph  Hall  50;  Dany  (?)  Kelley  10;  James  Kidd  20; 
Thomas  King  40  and  3  ;  John  Kimiug  30  ;  Cornelius  Lary  15  ; 
Samuel  Leavitt  15  ;  Nicholas  Listen  40  ;  William  Moore  30  and 
6  ;  Richard  Morgan  20  ;  Robert  Powell  20  ;  John  Robinson  15  ; 
Jonathan  Robinson  15  ;  John  Sinclair  15  ;  Robert  Smart  80  and 
20  ;  AVilliam  Taylor  20  ;  Jonathan  Thing  60  ;  John  Warren  40  ; 
Thomas  Warren,  Jr.,  son  of  John,  10.  December  1,  John  Gilman, 
Sr. ;  Henry  Magoon  10. 


*The  condition  not  being  complied  with,  the  land  was  regranted,  October  10, 1864, 
to  William  Bromfield. 


136  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

The  following  grants  were  made  from  1G65  to  1669  inclusive  : 

I660,  April  3,  John  Gilman,  Jr.    20  acres  ;  James  Kidcl  20. 
1666,    April   4,   James   Godfrey    10    acres.      July   3,    Charles 
Gilman  30,  conditionally. 

1668,  March  15,  Nicholas  Listen  and  Robert  Wadleigh  10  acres. 
March  29,  Philip  Cartee  (often  written  Carter)  16  or  17.  Septem- 
ber 28,  John  Folsom,  Jr.  20  ;  John  Gilman  30  ;  Samuel  Leavitt 
20  ;  Jonathan  Thing. 

1669,  May  3,  John  Folsom,  Sr.  20  acres.. - 

The  following  grants  were  made  from  1670  to  1672  inclusive  : 

1670,  March  30,  Samuel  Dudley  10  acres;  John  Robinson  30; 
Goodman  [John]  Clark  30  ;  Peter  Folsom  30  ;  Edward  Gilman 
100  ;  Jeremy  Leavitt,  Thomas  Rollins,  Edward  Smith,  Jonathan 
Thing,  Jr.  and  John  Young  30  each.  These  last  eight  grants 
were  of  laud  given  to  the  town  by  Thomas  Wiggin,  and  the 
grantees  bound  themselves  to  try  the  title,  if  contested  by  Hamp- 
ton.   October  2o,  Samuel  Folsom  2  ;  Lieut.  [Ralph]  Hall  30. 

1671,  April  3,  John  Bean  6  acres  ;  Henry  Magoon  20. 

1672,  April  29,  Samuel  Leavitt  50  acres. 

The  following  grants  were  made  from  1674  to  1678  inclusive  : 

1674,  February  9,  Moses  Gilman  ;  Kinsley  Hall  10  acres.  March 
3,  John  Clark  ;  William  Moore  12.  March  30,  Christian  DoUoff 
10  ;  Samuel  Dudley^  600  ;  Edward  Gilman  200  ;  Lieut.  [John] 
Gilman  GOO;  Moses  Gilman  600;  Lieut.  [Ralph]  Hall  400; 
David  Lawrence  10;  John  Robinson  200;  Thomas  Rollins  12; 
Humphrey  Wilson  400. 

1675,  April  2,  John  Folsom,  Sr.  200  acres;  John  P'olsom,  Jr. 
200;  Daniel  Gilman  30;  John  Gilman,  Jr.  30;  Joel  Judkins  10; 
Samuel  Leavitt  300  ;  Goodman  [Nicholas]  Listen  300  ;  William 
Moore  300;  Edward  Sewall  4';  Robert  Smart,  Sr.  300;  Edward 
Smith  100. 

1676-7,  March  19,  Samuel  Leavitt  6  acres. 

1677,  August  27,  Kinsley  Hall. 

1678  (about)  March  18,  George  Pearson. 

On  March  11,  1678-9,  Jonathan  Thing  was  put  in  the  place  of 
Ensign  [William]  Moore  with  Mr.  [Samuel]  Dudley  and  Lieut. 
[Ralph]  Hall,  for  the  equal  distribution  of  lands  to  such  as  had 
none  when  the  great  lots  were  granted  (March  30,  1674). 


HISTORY  OF  EXETEK.  137 

The  followhio;  grants  were  made  in  1681  and  1682 : 


^o  o'^ 


1681,  January  31,  Philip  Cartee  20  acres;  John  Clark  50; 
Jeremy  Connor  20  ;  Biley  Dudley  50  ;  Theophilus  Dudley  100  ; 
Teague  Drisco  20;  Eleazer  Elkins  50;  Peter  Folsom  100;  Joseph 
Hall  50;  Kinsley  Hall  100;  Samuel  Hall  50  ;  John  Kiming  50; 
Moses  Leavitt  50  ;  Henry  Magoon  20  ;  Nicholas  Norris  50  and 
50;  James  Sinclair  50  ;  John  Sinclair  20;  Edward  Smith  100; 
Mr.  [Robert]  Wadleigh ;  John  Wadleigh  50.  February  7,  Mr. 
[Samuel]  Dudley  20.  March  30,  Ephraim  P'olsom  100;  Cor- 
nelius Lary  40 ;  Richard  Morgan  60 ;  David  Robinson  100 ; 
Joseph  Wadleigh  100  ;  John  Young  100. 

1682,  March  14,  Samuel  Dudley,  Jr.  100  acres ;  Stephen 
Dudley  100;  Jeremy  Gihnan  100;  Nathaniel  Ladd  100;  Moses 
Gilman,  Jr.  100  ;  Robert  AVadleigh  200. 

On  March  14,  1681-2,  these  orders  were  adopted  by  the  town  : 

That  all  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  have  free  liberty  to  clear 
any  swamp  land  within  this  township  for  the  producing  of  meadow, 
not  exceeding  ten  acres  for  each  inhabitant,  provided  they 
entrench  not  upon  former  proprieties.  And  it  is  further  ordered 
that  what  heretofore  hath  been  done  and  hereafter  may  be  done  in 
pursuance  of  this  act  and  order  shall  be  as  good  a  title  as  any 
other  town  grant. 

Whereas  it  was  formerl}'  enacted  by  this  town  that  the  neck  of 
land  on  the  southwest  side  of  the  little  river  was  to  lie  for  a  per- 
petual common,  but  being  not  found  upon  record,  it  is  now  ratified 
and  confirmed  at  this  meeting,  and  the  selectmen  are  to  set  the 
bounds  ;  which  said  neck  of  land  is  intended  to  be  all  the  land 
between  the  great  river  and  the  little  river,  and  towards  Pickpocket 
near  about  King's  falls,  and  on  the  northwest  side  as  far  as  a 
place  called  King's  meadow. 

On  March  30,  1682,  it  was  "enacted  by  general  consent  that 
that  piece  of  land  between  Edward  Sewall's  fence,  Christian 
Dolloff's  fence  or  land,  John  Beau's  fence,  Henry  Magoon's  fence 
or  land  and  the  way  that  goes  from  Henry  Magoon's  land  to  Pick- 
pocket mill,  which  said  piece  of  land  now  lying  common,  shall  lie 
perpetually  common  for  the  use  of  the  town,  either  for  a  common 
field  or  for  what  else  shall  be  thought  convenient  for  the  town." 

The  following  grants  were  made  from  1690  to  1697  inclusive  : 

1690,  October  6,  Peter  Coffin. 

1693,  October  10,  Captain  Peter  Coffin,  tAvo  parcels,  one  of  60 
acres,  he  to  pay  the  town  in  money  therefor. 


138  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

1G97,  March  29,  Samuel  Leavitt  20  acres.  November  4,  Mr. 
[Rev.]  John  Clark,  100  acres,  "provided  he  live  in  the  town  ten 
years." 

The  following  grants  were  made  in  1698  : 

February  3,  Samuel  Bean  40  acres  ;  Edward  Gilman  ;  James 
Gilman  40  ;  Jeremy  Gilman  40  ;  Nicholas  Gilman  40  ;  Richard 
Hilton  100;  Winthrop  Hilton  100;  Thomas  Lyford  30;  Samuel 
Piper  20  ;  William  Taylor  20  ;  Samuel  Thin^  50  ;  Henry  Wad- 
leigh  10.  February  21,  William  Ardell  100;  Robert  Barber  50; 
James  Bean  30  ;  John  Bean,  Sr.  100;  Jonathan  Clark  20  ;  Peter 
Coffin  200;  Robert  Coffin  GO;  Jeremy  Conner  30;  Christian 
DoUoff  10;  Richard  Dolloff  100;  Samuel  Dolloff  100;  Philip 
Dudy  50  ;  Abraham  Folsom  50;  P2phraim  Folsom,  Jr.  20;  John 
Folsom,  Sr.  100  ;  John  Folsom  40  ;  Peter  Folsom,  Jr.  30  ;  David 
Gilman  and  James  Gilman  80  ;  John  Gilman  50  ;  John  Gilman, 
son  of  Capt.  John,  40  ;  Moses  Gilman,  Jr.  30  ;  Stephen  Gilman 
50  ;  Charles  Glidden  100  ;  John  Glidden  50  ;  Richard  Glidden  50 
and  50  ;  Alexander  Gordon  60  ;  James  Gordon  60  ;  John  Gordon 
20  ;  Nicholas  Gordon  30  ;  William  Grafs  (Graves)  30  ;  Richard 
Hilton  20 ;  Philip  Huntoon  30 ;  Job  Judkins  30 ;  Benjamin 
Leavitt  50  ;  Daniel  Leavitt  70  ;  John  Leavitt  100  ;  Moses  Leavitt 
6  ;  Lieut.  Samuel  Leavitt  100  ;  Samuel  Leavitt,  Jr.  70  ;  Samuel 
Lawrey  20  ;  Thomas  Lyford  30  ;  Richard  Mattoon  50  ;  Clement 
Moody  30  -|-  ;  William  Moore,  Jr.  60  ;  Richard  Morgan,  Sr.  100  ; 
Richard  Morgan,  Jr.  50  ;  Samuel  Pease  50  ;  Robert  Powell  50  ; 
Benjamin  Rollins  50 ;  Joseph  Rollins  50 ;  Moses  Rollins  50 ; 
Thomas  Rollins,  Sr.  100 ;  Thomas  Rollins,  Jr.  20 ;  Charles 
Rundlet,  Jr.  30  ;  John  Scribner  40  ;  James  Sinclair  50  ;  Theoph- 
ilus  Smith  30  ;  Thomas  Speed  50  ;  Philip  Spenlow  40  ;  Francis 
Steel  20  ;  Nathaniel  Stevens  20  ;  Benjamin  Taylor  20  ;  Nathan 
Taylor  30  ;  Jonathan  and  John  Thing  60  ;  Henry  Wadleigh  20 
and  20  ;  Jonathan  Wadleigh  50  ;  Robert  Wadleigh  50,  20  and  50  ; 
Thomas  Wilson  50  ;  Israel  Young  30  ;  James  Young  30  ;  John 
Young  30  and  20  ;  Robert  Young  30  ;  Sarah  Young  50.  March 
28,  John  Bean,  Jr.  60  acres  ;  Biley  Dudley  30  ;  Theophilus  Dudley 
50  ;  Moses  Gilman,  Sr.  50  ;  Richard  Glidden  40  ;  Dudle}'  Hilton 
50 ;  Philip  (?)  Huntoon  10 ;  Benjamin  Jones,  Sr.  50 ;  Moses 
Leavitt ;  Francis  Lyford  200 ;  Alexander  Magoon  50 ;  Richard 
Mattoon  20  ;  James  Norris  40  ;  Moses  Norris  30  ;  Nicholas  Norris 
3  ;  George  Pearson  50  ;  William  Powell  20  ;  Thomas  Rollins  20  ; 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  139 

Charles  Rundlet,  Jr.  50  ;  James  Rundlet,  50  ;  John  Scribner  10  ; 
Jonathan  Smith  20  ;  Nicholas  Smith  20  ;  Theophilus  Smith  30  ; 
Francis  Steel;  Haines  (?)  Woolford  30.  April  29,  Peter  CotHu 
100  ;  Joel  Jndkins  60  ;  Jonathan  Norris  50.  August  26,  Richard 
Bounds  ( ?) . 

At  the  town  meeting  on  March  28,  1698,  the  very  sensible  vote 
was  passed,  "that  those  who  had  land  given  them  at  the  last 
meeting  shall  have  no  more  given  them  at  this  meeting." 

The  following  grants  were  made  from  1699  to  1709  inclusive  : 

1699,  September  5,  Samuel  Elkins  20  acres;  Thomas  Gordon 
40 ;  Moses  Lea^'itt. 

1700,  April  17,  Cornelius  Conner  30  acres;  Ephraim  Folsom, 
Sr.  20;  Peter  Folsom,  Sr.  100;  Joshua  Gilmau  50;  Stephen 
Gilman  30  ;  Dudley  and  Richard  Hilton  20  ;  Jonathan  Hilton  50  ; 
Joseph  Young  40.  May  10,  Jeremiah  Gilman  100.  September  9, 
Ephraim  Folsom,  Jr.  20  ;  James  Leavitt  100  ;  Jonathan  Robinson, 
Sr.   100. 

1701,  April  1,  Jeremiah  Conner  15  acres;  Thomas  Rollins, 
Sr.  100  ;  Jonathan  Thing  30  ;  Thomas  Webster  50.  September  9, 
Robert  Coffin,  mill  privilege  and  flats. 

1702,  first  Monday  of  April,  Capt.  Peter  Coffin  200  acres; 
Robert  Coffin  100  ;  Cornelius  Conner  30  ;  Capt.  John  Gilman,  Sr. 
100  ;  Ens.  John  Gilman  100  ;  .John  Gilman,  son  of  Moses  ;  Nich- 
olas Gilman  100;  Capt.  Kinsley  Hall  100;  Dudley  Hilton  50; 
Benjamin  Jones,  Sr.  40  ;  Job  Judkius  40  ;  Mr.  Moses  Leavitt,  Sr. 
100;  Israel  Smith  100;  Ithiel  Smith  50;  Jacob  Smith  50;  Jona- 
than Smith  100  ;  Joseph  Smith  50 ;  John  Thing  30  ;  Jonathan 
Thing  100. 

1703,  first  Monday  of  April,  Richard  Dolloff  20  acres  ;  Thomas 
Dolloff  40  ;  Daniel  Gordon  50  ;  Bartholemew  Thing  50. 

1705,  first  Monday  of  April,  John  Glidden  50  acres  ;  Nathaniel 
Ladd  50;  Nehemiah  Leavitt  50;  John  Light  60,  "provided  he 
shall  live  7  years  in  the  town ;"  Nicholas  Norris  20 ;  Jethro 
Pearson  50  ;  John  Sinclair,  son  of  James,  100  ;  George  Veasey 
100  ;  Thomas  Veasey  100  ;  Jonathan  Wiggin  100. 

1706,  first  Monday  of  April,  Daniel  Bean,  Jr.  100  acres; 
Samuel  Dudley,  Jr.  100 ;  Stephen  Dudley,  Jr.  50 ;  Francis 
Durgin  20  ;  Cartee  Gilman  100  ;  Col.  Winthrop  Hilton  400  ;  Moses 
Norris  50  ;  Aaron  Rollins  100  ;  John  Rollins  100  ;  Charles  Rundlet, 
Jr.  50;  James  Rundlet  50;  Thomas  Seawell  100;  John  Sinclair 


140  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

50  ;  Theophilus  Smith  30  ;  Samuel  Stevens  60  ;  John  Thing  100  ; 
Joseph  Thing  100  ;  Thomas  AVebster  50. 

1707,  first  Monday  of  April,  Lieut.  John  Gilman  100  acres; 
Daniel  Ladd  100  ;  Satchell  Kundlet  100. 

1709,  first  Monday  of  April,  Daniel  Bean  80  acres. 

For  the  next  five  years  it  does  not  appear  that  any  land  grants 
were  made,  nor  that  any  action  was  taken  by  the  town  in  regard 
to  the  common  lands. 

On  April  5,  1714,  the  town  resolved  "that  two  miles  of  the 
west  end  of  the  township  be  laid  out  by  men  appointed,  for  a 
perpetual  commonage  for  the  use  of  the  town." 

This  decision  was  not  to  the  liking  of  many  of  the  inhabitants, 
and,  as  will  be  seen,  attempts  were  soon  made  to  revoke  it,  which 
were  never  abandoned  until  that  object  was  effected. 

On  March  13,  1717,  it  was  voted  "  that  Nicholas  Gilman,  Thomas 
Webster  and  Samuel  Thing  be  a  committee  to  make  diligent 
search  in  the  town  records  that  whereas  thei'e  is  complaint  by 
several  persons  that  they  have  not  had  their  proportion  in  lands 
given  them  by  the  town,  in  order  that  they  may  have  their  share  ; 
the  committee  to  make  report  of  their  doings  therein  to  this 
meeting." 

The  meeting  was  accordingly  adjourned  to  the  first  Monday  in 
November,  1717.  There  is  no  record  of  the  adjourned  meeting, 
nor  that  any  proceedings  were  had  under  the  vote. 

For  the  five  years  ensuing,  the  only  action  taken  by  the  town  in 
relation  to  its  lands,  was  the  appointment  of  a  committee  in  1720 
to  report  whether  any  inhabitants'  land  grants  had  been  encroached 
upon  by  the  late  lines  run  between  town  and  town.  The  commit- 
tee reported  that  certain  lands  laid  out  to  Jonathan  Gilman  and 
Nathaniel  Webster  were  included  within  the  bounds  of  Kingston  ; 
and  in  consequence  thereof  there  were  laid  out  to  them  in  1725 
by  the  lot  layers  of  Kingston  four  acres  of  the  common  land  "in 
Exeter,  to  make  good  their  loss.  Exeter  at  that  time  was  without 
lot  layers,  having  failed  to  choose  any. 

On  March  30,  1724,  the  town  resolved  as  follows  : 

Whereas  sundry  persons  desire  to  have  a  town  meeting  to  grant 
out  land,  who  have  not  had  their  share  of  land  as  they  ought  to 
have,  and  desire  a  committee  to  be  chosen  to  hear  what  those 
persons  have  to  say,  and  to  draw  up  Avhat  they  conclude  of,  and 
to  present  it  to  the  selectmen,  who  a\'e  to  call  a  town  meeting  to 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


141 


effect  what  the  committee  conclude  of.  Mr.  Justice  [Samuel] 
Thing,  Bartholomew  Thing,  Joseph  Hall,  Josiah  Hall  and  Edward 
Gilman  to  be  a  committee  to  search  the  town  book  to  lind  who 
ought  to  have  land  and  who  ought  not 

At  an  adjournment  of  the  town  meeting  called  for  the  purpose 
aforesaid,  held  April  12,  1725,  it  was  voted  : 

That  the  srant  of  the  two  miles  common  at  the  western  end  of 
the  township  be  wholly  null  and  void,  and  that  the  said  two  miles 
with  all  the  other  common  land  in  the  township  not  heretofore 
granted,  be  divided  in  proportion  according  to  the  return  of  Samuel 
Thing,  l">sq.,  Joseph  Hall,  Bartholomew  Thing,  Pxlward  Gilman, 
Josiah  Hall,  committee  chosen  by  the  town  for  that  end,  as  per 
list  under  the  said  committee's  hands  of  every  person's  name  who 
had  land  allowed  him  with  the  number  of  acres  annexed  thereto, — 
the  said  land  not  to  be  divided  till  the  expiration  of  ten  years 
from  the  date  hereof. 

The  following  is  the  list  reported  by  the  committee  : 

LIST    OF    DISTRIBUTEES    OF    LAND    AS    REPORTED    IN    1725. 


NAMES. 

ACKKS. 

NAMES. 

ACRES. 

Samuel  Akers, 

20 

Capt.  EHphalet  Coffin, 

100 

Daniel  Ames, 

30 

Edward  Colcord, 

20 

John  Barber,  Sen""., 

50 

Jonathan  Colcord, 

40 

John  Barber,  Jr., 

30 

Cornelius  Conner, 

100 

Robert  Barber, 

30 

Jeremy  Conner,  SenJ"., 

100 

Nathaniel  Bartlett, 

20 

Jonathan  Conner, 

50 

Edward  Bean, 

30 

Moses  Conner, 

40 

Jeremiah  Bean,  Sen""., 

100 

Philip  Conner, 

40 

Jeremiah  Bean,  Jr., 

40 

Samuel  Conner, 

30 

John  Bean,  Sen"*., 

40 

Dr.  Thomas  Dean, 

30 

John  Bean,  Jr., 

30 

Sampson  Doe, 

20 

Samuel  Bean,  Sen""., 

50 

Samuel  Doe, 

20 

William  Bean, 

30 

Richard  Dolloff, 

80 

John  Brown, 

20 

Samuel  Dolloff, 

80 

Giles  Burleigh, 

30 

Samuel  Dolloff,  Jr., 

30 

James  Burley, 

20 

Cornelius  Drisco, 

50 

Josiah  Burleigh, 

30 

Mr.  Biley  Dudley, 

100 

Joseph  Burleigh, 

20 

James  Dudley, 

70 

Jeremiah  Calef, 

20 

Jonathan  Dudley, 

50 

Jonathan  Clark, 

40 

Joseph  Dudley, 

40 

Richard  Clark, 

40 

Nicholas  Dudley, 

100 

Solomon  Clark, 

30 

Samuel  Dudley,  Sen""., 

100 

Mr.  Ward  Clark, 

50 

Samuel  Dudley,  Jr., 

50 

142 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


NAMES. 


Stephen  Dudley,  Sen""., 
Stephen  Dudley,  Jr., 
Trueworthy  Dudley, 
Francis  Durgin, 
Samuel  Edgerly, 
Thomas  Edgerly, 
Samuel  Elkins, 
Seth  Fogg, 
Abraham  Folsom, 
Benjamin  Folsom, 
Edward  Folsom, 
Ephraim  Folsom,  Sen""., 
Ephraim  Folsom,  Jr., 
Jeremiah  Folsom, 
John  Folsom,  Sen""., 
John  Folsom,  Jr., 
Jonathan  Folsom, 
Estate  of  Peter  Folsom,  Jr. 

deceased, 
William  Folsom,  Sen""., 
William  Folsom,  Jr., 
Daniel  Giles, 
Ancbew  Oilman, 
Benjamin  Oilman, 
Caleb  Oilman, 
Carty  Oilman, 
Daniel  Oilman, 
David  Oilman, 
Edward  Oilman,  Sen'"., 
Edward  Oilman,  Jr., 
Ezekiel  Oilman, 
Israel  Oilman, 
Lieut.  James  Oilman, 
James  Oilman,  Jr., 
Capt.  Jeremiah  Oilman, 
Maj.  John  Oilman, 
Capt.  John  Oilman, 
Lieut.  John  Oilman, 
Jonathan  Oilman, 
Joseph  Oilman, 
Joshua  Oilman, 
Maverick  Oilman, 
Moses  Oilman,  Sen"^,, 
Moses  Oilman,  Jr., 
Nathaniel  Oilman, 


ACRES. 

NAMES. 

AOREg. 

100 

Nehemiah  Oilman, 

50 

30 

Maj.  Nicholas  Oilman, 

250 

50 

Nicholas  Oilman,  Jr., 

50 

30 

Peter  Oilman, 

70 

20 

Samuel  Oilman, 

60 

20 

Simon  Oilman, 

50 

100 

Thomas  Oilman, 

30 

20 

Andrew  Olidden, 

100 

100 

Benjamin  Olidden, 

30 

100 

Joseph  Olidden, 

30 

30 

Nathaniel  Olidden, 

30 

100 

Richard  Olidden,  Sen""., 

50 

30 

Richard  Olidden,  Jr., 

30 

100 

Alexander  Oordon, 

100 

80 

Daniel  Oordon, 

30 

100 

James  Gordon, 

30 

100 

John  Oordon,  Jr., 

30 

Jonatlian  Gordon, 

50 

50 

Nicholas  Gordon, 

100 

30 

Thomas  Gordon, 

50 

30 

Thomas  Gordon,  Jr., 

30 

30 

John  Graves, 

30 

100 

William  Graves,  Sen""., 

50 

80 

William  Graves,  Jr., 

30 

150 

Thomas  Haley, 

20 

50 

Edward  Hall, 

150 

50 

Joseph  Hall, 

150 

70 

Josiah  Hall, 

120 

150 

Capt.  Kinsley  Hall, 

200 

50 

Paul  Hall, 

80 

30 

Theophilus  Hardy, 

80 

50 

Benjamin  Hilton, 

30 

100 

Edward  Hilton, 

40 

50 

Jonathan  Hilton,  Sen'"., 

50 

100 

Jonathan  Hilton,  Jr., 

30 

250 

Joseph  Hilton, 

70 

200 

Capt.  Richard  Hilton, 

150 

100 

Samuel  Hilton, 

60 

50 

William  Hilton, 

50 

50 

Winthrop  Hilton, 

50 

30 

Job.  Judkins,  Sen^, 

70 

30 

Job  Judkins,  Jr., 

30 

120 

Joseph  Judkins, 

40 

50 

Caleb  Kimball, 

20 

50 

John  Kimball, 

20 

HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


143 


NAMES. 

Moses  Kimming, 
Capt.  Nathaniel  Ladd, 
Nathaniel  Ladd,  Jr., 
Daniel  Leary, 
Samuel  Learj-, 
Dudley  Leavitt, 
Lieut.  James  Leavitt, 
John  Leavitt, 
Joseph  Leavitt, 
Dea.  Moses  Leavitt, 
Selah  Leavitt, 
Stephen  Leavitt, 
Timothy  Leavitt, 
John  Lord, 
John  Lougee, 
Stephen  Lyford, 
Thomas  Lyford, 
Alexander  Magoon, 
Benjamin  Magoon, 
Samuel  Magoon, 
John  Marsh, 
Richard  Mattoon, 
Samuel  Mighill, 
Clement  Moody,  Sen*"., 
Clement  Moody,  Jr., 
John  Moody, 
Jonathan  Moody, 
Walter  Neal, 
James  Norris, 
John  Norris, 
Jonathan  Norris, 
Moses  Norris,  Sen""., 
Moses  Norris,  Jr., 
Nicholas  Norris,  Sen""., 
Samuel  Norris, 
Rev.  John  Odlin, 
Jethro  Pearson,  Sen''., 
Jethro  Pearson,  Jr., 
Nathaniel  Pease, 
John  Perkins,  Sen""., 
John  Perkins,  Jr., 
William  Perkins,  Sen""., 
William  Perkins,  Jr., 
Nicholas  Perryman, 
Ephraim  Philbrick, 


ACRES. 

NAMES. 

ACRES. 

30 

Robert  Pike, 

20 

GO 

Richard  Preston, 

20 

40 

John  Quimby, 

20 

40 

John  Robinson, 

130 

40 

Jonathan  Robinson,  Senr., 

50 

80 

Jonathan  Robinson,  Jr., 

100 

200 

Joseph  Robinson, 

70 

50 

Thomas  Robinson, 

20 

30 

Benjamin  Rollins, 

40 

200 

John  Rollins,  Jr., 

30 

50 

Samuel  Rollins, 

50 

40 

Edward  Scribner, 

30 

50 

John  Scribner,  Sen^., 

50 

20 

John  Scribner,  Jr., 

50 

30 

Joseph  Scribner, 

30 

100 

Samuel  Scribner, 

40 

100 

Edward  Sewall, 

40 

100 

Stephen  Sewall, 

30 

30 

James  Sinclair, 

100 

50 

John  Sinclair,  Sen""., 

100 

30 

John  Sinclair,  Jr., 

30 

30 

Joseph  Sinclair, 

40 

30 

Richard  Sinclair, 

40 

50 

Samuel  Sinclair, 

40 

50 

John  Smart, 

40 

40 

Joseph  Smart, 

30 

30 

Robert  Smart, 

50 

30 

Benjamin  Smith, 

30 

30 

Benjamin  Smith,  Jr., 

30 

30 

David  Smith, 

30 

30 

Edward  Smith, 

30 

60 

Jacob  Smith, 

70 

40 

Jonathan  Smith, 

50 

30 

Nathaniel  Smith, 

30 

30 

Nicholas  Smith, 

30 

100 

Oliver  Smith, 

70 

70 

Richard  Smith, 

50 

30 

Capt.  Theophilus  Smith, 

150 

50 

Theophilus  Smith,  Jr., 

50 

100 

Benjamin  Taylor, 

30 

40 

Joseph  Taylor, 

50 

30 

Nathan  Taylor, 

30 

40 

William  Taylor, 

80 

20 

Lieut.  Bartholomew  Thing, 

150 

20 

Benjamin  Thing, 

100 

144 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


NAMK.S. 

Daniel  Thing, 

Jonathan  Thing, 

Heirs  of  Capt.  Jonathan  Thing, 

Jr.,  dec<5., 
Joseph  Thing, 
Josiah   Thing,  Jr.  (son  of 

Samuel), 
Nathaniel  Thing, 
Samuel  Thing,  Esq., 
Abner  Thurston, 
Ensign  Henry  Wadleigh, 
Capt.  Jonathan  Wadleigh, 
Jonathan  Wadleigh,  Jr., 


The  aforenamed  249  persons  are  they  to  whom  the  committee 
lias  proportioned  the  common  land  of  this  town. 


ACKE9. 

NAMES. 

ACRES. 

80 

Philip  Wadleigh, 

50 

50 

Robert  Wadleigh,  Sen''., 

100 

> 

Nathaniel  Webster, 

50 

100 

Thomas  Webster, 

100 

100 

Humphrey  Wilson, 

50 

Dea.  Thos.  Wilson, 

200 

50 

Benjamin  York, 

50 

50 

Richard  York, 

40 

300 

Charles  Young, 

30 

20 

Daniel  Young, 

80 

100 

James  Young, 

30 

200 

Jonathan  Young, 

50 

30 

Robert  Young, 

50 

PROCEEDINGS    TO    HASTEN    A    DISTRIBUTION. 

It  is  not  surprising  that  a  majority  of  the  inhabitants  were  un- 
willing to  wait  ten  years  in  accordance  with  the  report  of  the  com- 
mittee, for  the  actual  division  of  the  lands.  Such  a  prospect  was 
particularly  tantalizing  to  those  who  were  then  without  real  estate, 
when  it  lay  with  the  majority  of  their  own  number  to  say  how  soon 
they  might  come  into  possession  of  very  substantial  homestead 
lots. 

Accordingly,  in  something  less  than  four  years,  the  subject  was 
resumed;  this  time  by  the  inhabitants  as  "Proprietors  of  the 
Common  Lands."  The  first  proprietors'  meeting  was  called  by 
the  selectmen  of  the  town,  upon  an  application  stating  that  the 
common  lands  were  being  trespassed  upon.  It  was  held  January 
6,  1729,  and  adjourned  to  the  twentieth  of  the  same  month.  A 
vote  was  passed  that  the  clause  in  the  returji  of  the  committee 
forbidding  the  division  of  the  lands  for  ten  years,  be  null  and 
void,  and  that  a  division  be  made  forthwith  ;  and  Edward  Gilman, 
Edward  Hall,  Jeremiah  Conner,  John  Folsom  and  Andrew  Gilman 
were  chosen  a  committee  to  make  partition  of  the  lands  according 
to  the  return  of  the  committee  who  proportioned  them,  and  "go 
about  the  work  as  soon  as  may  be." 

This  committee  failed  to  do  the  "work"  for  which  they  were 
appointed  ;  apparently  for  the  reason  that  some  of  their  number 
were  opposed  to  the  plan  of  immediate  division.     So  nearly  two 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  U") 

years  more  went  by  before  the  matter  was  again  moved.  Another 
meeting  of  the  proprietors  was  then  called,  and  held  November  9, 
1730,  at  which  Captain  John  Oilman,  Edward  Oilman,  Joseph 
Hall,  Peter  Oilman  and  Israel  Oilman  were  chosen  a  committee 
to  lay  out  the  common  lands  agreeably  to  the  proportion  made  by 
the  committee  in  1725  ;  and  Edward  Hall  and  Jeremiah  Conner 
were  subsequently  added  to  the  new  committee. 

After  nearly  two  years'  consideration,  the  last-named  committee 
reported  a  plan  for  the  separation  of  the  common  la  ds,  at  the 
west  end  of  the  township,  into  sixteen  ranges,  containing  in  the 
aggregate  1485  lots  of  ten  acres  each,  to  be  distributed  among 
the  inhabitants,  agreeably  to  the  apportionment  made  by  the  com- 
mittee appointed  in  1725.  This  report  was  accepted  by  the  town 
October  19,  1782  ;  and  it  was  voted  that  Mr.  Maylem  should  draw 
all  the  lots  for  the  proprietors,  according  to  the  division  made  by 
the  last  appointed  committee.  The  resolution  was  at  once  carried 
into  effect ;  and  a  full  list  of  the  drawing  appears  in  the  Proprie- 
tors' Records. 

FINAL    DISTRIBUTION. 

But  there  was  still  some  dissatisfaction  with  the  allotments. 
Complaint  was  made  that  some  of  the  inhabitants  had  never 
received  their  "  ten  acre  lots,"  to  which  they  considered  themselves 
entitled,  under  the  vote  of  the  town  of  March  14,  1681-2,  and 
that  certain  inequalities  existed  in  the  former  divisions,  which 
ought  to  be  corrected.  Another  meeting  of  the  town  was  there- 
fore held  June  15,  1738,  which  was  continued  by  adjournments  to 
August  28,  at  which  it  was  resolved  (for  the  third  time?)  that 
the  vote  passed  by  the  town  April  5,  1714,  that  two  miles  of  the 
western  end  of  the  township  should  be  for  a  perpetual  commonage, 
be  null  and  void,  and  that  the  said  two  miles  be  laid  out  and 
divided  with  the  rest  of  the  commons  among  the  inhabitants. 

A  committee  of  seven  were  appointed,  consisting  of  Captain 
Samuel  Oilman,  Lieutenant  John  Robinson,  Captain  Peter  Oilman, 
Mr.  Trueworthy  Dudley,  Cornet  Ezekiel  Oilman,  Ensign  Richard 
Mattoon  and  Captain  John  Oilman,  vSr.,  who  received  specific  in- 
structions as  to  their  duties  in  dividing  the  lands  ;  were  to  be 
allowed  compensation  at  the  rate  of  eleven  shillings  each  per  day  ; 
were  empowered  to  hire  a  surveyor  at  the  cost  of  fourteen  shillings 
per  day,  and  were  given  twelve  months  in  which  to  make  their 
report.     The  time  was  subsequently  enlarged  to  two  years.     The 

10 


14G 


HISTOKY  OF  EXETER. 


committee  attended  to  the  duty  assigned  tliem  and  filed  their  return 
on  Auo-ust  18,  1740.  In  it  they  provided  ten  acre  lots  for  several 
persons  who  had  not  hitherto  received  them,  and  added  twenty 
names  to  the  list  reported  by  the  committee  of  1725,  as  follows  : 


NAMES. 


ER. 

NAMES. 

ACRES. 

20 

John  Light's  heirs, 

20 

40 

Ebenezer  Martin, 

10 

10 

John  Mudget, 

10 

10 

Thomas  Mudget, 

10 

10 

John  Roberts, 

13 

12 

Samuel  Smith,  son  of  Jacob, 

15 

10 

Francis  Steel's  heirs. 

50 

40 

Edward  Stevens's  heirs, 

40 

30 

Samuel  Stevens's  heirs, 

10 

IJ 

Thomas  Young, 

20 

John  Burley's  heirs, 
Thomas  Dolloft"'s  heirs, 
Samuel  Fogg, 
Israel  Folsom, 
John  Fox, 
Joel  Judkins, 
Christopher  Kenniston, 
Daniel  Ladd, 
Thomas  Lary, 
Nehemiah  Leavitt's  heirs, 


The  committee  were  empowered  to  make  changes  in  the  lots  as 
drawn  in  1732,  in  certain  cases  when  found  needful,  and  a  few 
such  changes  were  made  ;  hut  in  general  those  lots  were  allowed 
to  remain  without  alteration. 

The  adoption  of  the  last  report  completed  the  disposal  of  the 
public  lands  of  the  town,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  fragments 
chiefly  by  the  side  of  the  river.  The  titles  granted  by  the  town 
have  never  been  questioned. 

The  meetings  of  the  proprietors  were  kept  up  a  few  years  after 
the  division  of  1740,  and  then  abandoned;  and  the  Proprietors' 
Records  were  ordered  to  be  delivered  to  the  town  clerk. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

OFFICERS  OF  THE  TOWN. 

Is  this  chapter  is  given  a,  list  of  the  principal  officers  of  Exeter 
from  its  foundation  to  the  present  time.  It  is  generally  taken 
from  the  town  books,  but  in  the  few  cases  where  they  fail  to  afford 
information,  it  has  been  sought  for  elsewhere.  With  the  exception 
of  some  of  the  earlier  years,  the  list  is  almost  complete. 

For  a  long  time  the  elections  were  held  at  irregular  intervals, 
and  the  terms  of  service  varied  correspondingly.  The  general 
rule  must  have  been  that  incumbents  of  offices  held  over  until 
their  successors  were  elected.  This  is  especially  the  case  with 
reference  to  the  office  of  town  clerk,  which  was  never  treated  as 
an  annual  one  before  1 720.  The  number  of  selectmen  was  variable  ; 
from  1644  to  1690  it  was  three  ;  then  it  was  raised  to  five,  and  so 
continued  till  1817,  when  it  was  reduced  to  three  again. 

It  may  interest  those  who  are  curious  about  "first  things,"  to 
know  that  the  earliest  election  of  lot  layers  in  the  town  which  is 
on  record  was  in  1648  ;  the  earliest  (and  only)  election  of  clerk 
of  the  market  was  in  the  same  year  ;  the  earliest  surveyor  of 
highways,  in  1651  ;  of  tithing  men,  in  1678  ;  of  pound-keeper,  in 
1680,  and  of  moderator,  not  until  1686.  This  may  be  the  fault 
of  the  records,  for  very  probably  such  officers  were  chosen  earlier, 
and  the  fact  failed  to  be  recorded.  We  can  hardly  suppose,  for 
example,  that  town  meetings  were  held  for  near  half  a  century 
without  a  moderator. 

Apparently  a  good  deal  of  interest  used  to  be  taken  in  the  choice 
of  constables.  Attached  to  this  office  was  the  irksome  duty  of 
collecting  the  rates.  The  person  chosen  could  decline  the  office, 
but  only  on  the  payment  of  the  then  heavy  fine  of  five  pounds. 
This  a  great  many  did  rather  than  accept  the  disagreeable  position. 
At  length  the  practice  grew  up  of  allowing  the  constable-elect 
to  excuse  himself  from  performing  the  duties,  on  his  furnishing  a 
substitute  acceptable  to  the  town. 

147 


148  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

LIST  OF  TOWN  OFFICERS. 
RULERS. 

Isaac  Gross,  1633.     Nicholas  Neeiham,  1639  to  1642.     Thomas  Wilson 
1642  to  1643. 

ASSISTANT    RULEKS. 
Augustine  Storre  and  Anthony  Stanyan,  1639- 


TOWN    CLERKS. 


John  Legat, 
Eilward  Smith, 
Jon  ithan  Thing, 
Sam.iel  Thing, 
Kinsley  Hall, 
Josiah  Hall, 
Bartholomew  Thing, 
Elisha  Odlin, 
Zebulon  Giddinge, 
Josiah  Gilman,  Jr., 
Ephraim  Robinson, 
Joseph  Tilton, 
John  J.  Parker, 
George  Smith, 


1649 
16S4  (?) 

1689 
1700-1719 
1720-172.5 
1726-1729 
1729-1737 
173S-1743 
1 744-1 7S2 
1783-lSOO 
1801-1809 
1809-1811 
1812-1831 
1831,  3 


John  S.  Sleeper, 
Daniel  Melcher, 
Charles  Conner, 
Joseph  T.  Porter, 
James  M.  Lovering, 
John  Tyrrell, 
Franklin  Lane, 
Samuel  D.  Wingate, 
Augustus  H.  Weeks, 
Charles  Grant, 
William  H.  Belknap, 

Joseph  S.  Parsons, 
George  E.  Lane, 


1832, 3 
1834-1837 

1838-1842 
1843-1846 
1847-1849 

1850 
1851-1854 

1855 
1856,  7 
1858-1860 
1861-1865, 
1875-1888 
1866-1869 
1870-1874 


SELECTMEN. 


nichard  Bulgar, 
Samuel  Greentield, 
Christopher  Lawson, 
Edward  Hilton, 
Anthony  Stanyan, 
William  Moore, 


James  Wall, 
John  Legat, 
Godfrey  Dearborn, 
John  Cram, 
Henry  Roby, 
Thomas  King, 
Nathaniel  Drake, 
John  Gilman,  1052,  4,  5,  7,  61,  8,  71, 
2,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  87 
Thomas  Pettit,  1652 

John  Robinson,  1653,  61,  6,  73 


1644 
1644-1646 
1644 
1645,  6,  1651 
1645,  6 
1647,  54,  8,  71,  2, 
91,  4,  9 
1647, 9 
1647-1650 
1648 
1648, 9 
1650 
1650,  2,  8,  62 
1651 


Humphrey  Wilson,  1653,  8 

Moses  (Oilman,    1653,  60,  73,  4,  7,  93 
Nicholas  Listen,         1654,  5,  7,  62,  6 


John  Warren, 
Jonathan  Thing, 

Nicholas  Smith, 
John  Tedd, 
John  Folsom, 
Thomas  Biggs, 


1855,  7 
1658,  01,  8,  71,  2, 
6,  82,  3 
1658 
1658,  62 
1660,  8,  91 
1660 
Ralph  Hall,  1666,  73,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  80 


Samuel  Leavitt, 
Elward  Smith, 
Edward  Gilman, 
Kinsley  Hall, 
John  Folsom,  Jr., 
Moses  Leavitt, 


1675,  91,  6 

1679,  80 

1680,  1,  2,  3,  90 

16S1,  90,  3 

1681,  96 

1682,  3,  91,  6 


Biley  Dudley,  1687,  90,  4,  5,  9,  1700 


V_  (/A^V/ ''•"vCA^  vst^^"^^- 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


149 


John  Wadleigh,  1687 

William  Hilton,  1690 

Francis  Lyford,  1690 

Ephraim  Folsom,  1691 

Theophilus  Dudley,         1693,  4,  5,  9 
Richard  Hilton,    1693,  1701,  2,  3,  7, 

8,  15 
John  Wilson,  1693 

Robert  Smart,  Sr.,  1694 

Moses  Oilman,  Jr.,  1694 

Jonathan  Robinson,  169.5 


Henry  Wadleigh, 
James  Sinclair, 
Winthrop  Hilton, 
James  Oilman, 
Andrew  Wiggin, 
William  Scammon, 
Nicholas  (Oilman, 


1695 
1695,  1700,  6,  21 
1696 
1696 
1699,  1712,4 
1699,  1700 
1699,  1700,  1,  9, 
18,21,5,6,7,9 
Theophilus  Smith,       1699,  1706,  11, 
12,  7,8,  27,33,4,6,  7,9,40* 
Theophilus  Dudley,      1700-1709,  11 
Simon  Wiggin,  1701-1705 

Jonathan  Thing,  1701-1705,  14,  5,  6 
John  Oilman  (son  of  Moses),   1701- 

1705,  8 
Samuel  Leavitt,  1704,  7 

Robert  Coffin,  1705,  7,  8 

Jonathan  Wadleigh,     1705,  7,  8,  12, 
4,  5,  6,  23,  4,  6,  7,  8,  29,  32 
John  Robinson,  1706,  20,  5,  38 

Bradstreet  Wiggin,  1706 

William  Moore, 
William  French, 
Jeremiah  Conner, 
Capt.  John  Oilman,  1711,  4,  5,  6,  8, 
20,  3,  4,  8,  9,  30 
Lieut.  John  Oilman,        1711,  2,  4,  7, 

31,  2 
Joseph  Hall,  1715,  6,  7,  21,  3,  4 

Nicholas  Oordon,       1716,  7,  8,  22,  5 
Moses  Leavitt,  1717 

Edward  Hall,  1718,  20,  2,  6 


1709,  11,  2 

1709 

1709,  22,  30,  1 


Thomas  Wilson,  1720,  3,  4 

Cornelius  Conner,  1720 

James  Leavitt,  1721,  2,  3,  4,  8,  9,  32 
Bartholomew  Thing,  1721,  6,  7,  8,  9, 

33,  6,  7 
Samuel  Thing,  1722 

Eliphalet  Coffin,  1725,  33 

Caleb  Oilman,  1725,  30,  1,  6,  7 

Theophilus  Oilman,  1726 

Joseph  Thing,  1728, 30, 1, 2,3, 4,  6,  7,  9 


Thomas  Webster, 
Samuel  Oilman, 
Edward  Oilman, 
Stephen  Lyford, 
Jonathan  Oilman, 
Peter  Oilman, 
Ezekiel  Oilman, 
Trueworthy  Dudley, 
Daniel  Thing, 
James  Oilman, 
Josiah  Oilman, 
Thomas  Dean, 
Elisha  Odlin, 
Jonathan  Conner, 


1730,  1,  2 

1733,  6,  7,  8 
1734,  40 

1734 

1734,  00,  60 
1738 
1738 
1738 
1739 

1739,  40,  3-1750 
1739,  55,  6 


1740 
1743-1748 


Josiah  Sanborn,  1743,  4,  5,  6,  50,  1, 

2,3,4,7,8 
John  Odlin,  Jr.,     1743-54,  6,  7,  8,  9 
John  Rice,  1743,  52,  6,  7,  8,  9,  61,  2, 
3,  4,  6,  7,  8,  9,  70 
Zebulon  Oiddinge,  1744-1748 

Samuel  Fogg,  1747-1749 

Ephraim  Robinson,  1749,  50,  2,  3,  4, 
60,  72,  5,  7,  8,  80-1785 
Nathaniel  Bartlett,  Jr.,       1749-1754 
Samuel  Oilman,  Jr.,      1751,  3,  4,  60 


Robert  Light, 
James  Leavitt, 
Charles  Rundlett, 
John  Phillips, 
Peter  Folsom, 
John  Kimball, 
Joseph  Leavitt, 
John  Oiddinge, 


1751,  5 
1755 
1755,  66,  7,  8,  9 
1756 
1756 
1757 
1757 
1758,  9,  61,  2,  3,  4 


*This  is  one  of  several  instances  where  the  same  name  was  handed  down  through 
two  or  more  Renerations,  and  it  is  difficult  to  ascertain  where  the  father's  term  of 
office  terminated,  and  the  son's  began.  The  same  is  true  of  other  names,  John  Gil- 
mau,  for  example,  which  represents  at  least  four  different  persons  in  this  list. 


150 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


Nicholas  Oilman,  1758,  9,  61,  2,  3, 4, 

6,  7,  8,  70,  1 
Josiah  Robinson,      1759,  66,  7,  8,  9, 

70,  1 
Theophilus  Oilman,  1760,  1 

John  Dudley,  1760-1764 

Daniel  Tilton,     1762,  3,  4,  6,  7,  8,  9, 

70,  1,  80,  1 
Joseph  Oilman,  1769,  70,  1 

Peter  Coffin,  1771-1775 

Nathaniel  Oordon,  1772,  6,  93 

Samuel  Brooks,  1772-1775 

Theophilus  Smith,  1772,  6 

Ephraim  Folsom,  1773,  4 

Theodore  Carleton,  1773-1775 

Thomas  Folsom,  1773,  4,  5,  7,  9 

Joseph  Cram,  1776,  80-90 

Eliphalet  Oiddinge,  1776-1778,  1788 

-94,  1802,  3 
Trueworthy  Oilman,     1776,  7,  8,  80- 

87 
John  T.  Oilman,  1777,  8 

Benjamin  Boardman,  1778,  9 

Eliphalet  Ladd,  1779,  84,  5,  6 

Jedediah  Jewett,  1779,  82,  3,  4 

Samuel  Folsom,  1779 

James  Thurston,  1780-1783 

Nathaniel  Oilman,  1785,  91,  2 

Ephraim  Robinson,         1786-93,  95- 

1805,  7 
Oideon  Lamson,  1786,  1794-1805,  9 
Oliver  Peabody,  1787-1791 

Dudley  Odlin,  1787-1790 

Jeremiah  Robinson,  1792,  3,  1810-16 
Samuel  Tenney,  1792-1800 

Jeremiah  Leavitt,  1794-1807 

Oeorge  Odiorne,  1794-1796 

Benjamin  C.  Oilman,  1797-1801,  14, 

5,  6 
Samuel  Oilman,  1801,  2 

Trueworthy  Robinson,        1803-1806 
Daniel  Conner,  1804-1807 

Nathaniel  Parker,  1806 

Jeremiah  Dow,  1806 

Neheiniah  Folsom,  1807,  17-24 

John  Kimball,  1807-13,  17-29 


Edmund  Pearson, 
Thomas  Kimball, 
Josiah  Folsom,  Jr., 
Harvey  Colcord, 
Enoch  Rowe, 
John  Oordon, 
Joseph  Osborne, 
John  Rogers, 
Freese  Dearborn, 
Josiah  Robinson, 
John  Smith, 
Theodore  ]Moses, 
Oeorge  Smith, 


1808-1813 

1808 

1808, 9 

1809-1814 

1810-1816 

1814-1816 

1815,  6 

1817-1829 

1825-1829 

1830-1835 

1830 

1830 

1831-36,  8,  9 


James  Burley,  1831-37,  40,  1,  2 

Josiah  R.  Norris,  1836-1839 

John  Dodge,  1837,  40 

Jeremiah  Robinson,  Jr.,    1838-41,  3, 

4,5 
William  Conner,  1841-46,  50,  1 

WilHam  Philbrick,  1842 

John  T.  Oordon,  1843-1848 

Retire  H.  Parker,  1846-1848 

Nathaniel  Swasey,  1847,  8 

Jewett  Conner,  1852-54,  63-67,  1879- 

85,  7 
Benjamin  Lang,  1849-1851 

William  P.  Moulton,  1849 

John  Foss,  1849,  50 

Lewis  W.  Perkins,  1851-1853 

Oeorge  W.  Furnald,  1852-1854, 1868- 

70 
Edwin  O.  Lovering,  1854 

William  II.  Robinson,  1855,  6 

Asa  Jewell,  1855-1857 

Ammi  R.  Wiggin,  1855,  6 

Alfred  Conner,  1857,  8,  72 

John  W.  Elliott,  1857,  8 

James  W.  Odlin,  1858,  9 

John  Clement,  1859,  60 

Nathaniel  O.  Oiddings,  1859,  60 

Nathaniel  Shute,  1860,  1 

Joseph  D.  Wadleigh,  1861,  2 

Josiah  J.  Folsom,    1861-63,  1879-86 
Adoniram  J.  Towle,  1862 

Solomon  J.  Perkins,  1863-1867 

Joseph  T.  Porter,  1864-1867 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


151 


Jacob  Carlisle, 
John  IL  Kimball, 
Daniel  F.  Hayes, 
Joseph  Perkins, 
William  B.  Morrill, 
Joshua  Getchell, 
Lyford  Conner, 


1S()S,  9 
186S, 9 
1S70,  1 
1870,  1 
1871-84,  6 
1872,  3 
1873 


Nathaniel  G.  Oilman, 
Oliver  L.  Giddings, 
Charles  H.  Downing, 
John  M.  Wadleigh, 
Andrew  J.  Fogg, 
George  W.  Green, 
Charles  H.-  Towle, 


1874-1876 

1874-1876 

1877, 8 

1877, 8 

1885, 6 

1887 

1887 


MODERATORS. 


Peter  Coffin, 
William  Moore, 
Kinsley  Hall, 
Theophilus  Dudley, 


1696,  1705 

1698 

1700,  4 

1706, 9 


Moses  Leavitt,  1707,  8,  13,  4,  5,  23,  6 
John  Gilman,  1711 

Nicholas  Gilman,    1716,  7,  8,  30-35, 

7,  9,  43-48 
Captain  John  Gilman,    1720,  4,  5,  7, 

9,  36,  8 
Samuel  Thing,  1721,  2,  8 

Ezekiel  Gilman,  1740 

Zebulon  Giddinge,  1741 

Peter  Gilman,        1742,  54,  5,  60-68, 

70-73,  6 
James  Gilman,  1749,  50,  3 

Samuel  Gilman,  1751,  2,  9 

John  Odlin,  1756-1759 


Nathaniel  Folsom,  1774, 5, 7,  9,  85-90 
John  Phillips.  1778 

Nicholas  Gilman,  1780-84 

John  T.  Gilman,  1791-1794,  1806,  7, 
9,  10,  1,  7,  8,  20-25 
Oliver  Peabody,  1795,  7,  1801,  5,  12 
Samuel  Tenney,  1796,  8,  9,  1800,  8 
Jeremiah  Smith,  1802,  3,  4,  13-16 
Nathaniel  Gilman,  1819 

James  Burley,  1826-1842 

James  Bell,  1843-1846 

Woodbridge  Odlin,  1847-1849 

Nathaniel  Gilman,  1850-1853 

William  B.  MorriU,  1854,  5,  9,  60-66 
James  M.  Lovering,  1856,  7 

Joseph  G.  Hoyt,  1858 

Charles  G.  Conner,  1867-1886 

John  J.  Bell,  1887 


REPRESENT  A.TIVES. 


Bartholomew  Tippen, 
Ralph  Hall, 
William  Moore, 
Robert  Wadleigh, 
Robert  Smart, 
Thomas  Wiggin, 
Samuel  Leavitt, 
John  Folsom, 
John  Gilman,  / 

Jonathan  Thing, 
Moses  Leavitt, 


1680 

1680 

1681,  92 

1681 

1684 

1684 

1685,  92,  6,  1703 

1685,  94,  5 

,       .-.-     1693 

1693 

1693,  5,  8,  1702 


Theophilus  Dudley,  1693,  5,  8,  1702, 

9,11,2 
Kinsley  HaU,  1694,  5 

David  Lawrence,  1696,  1703 


Samuel  Thing,  1703,  13,  4,  5,  27,  8 
Nicholas  Gilman,  1709,  11-15,  1732 
Capt.  John  Gilman,  1716-1722 

Lieut.  John  Gilman,  1716-1722 

Bartholomew  Thing,  1727,  8,  31-35 
Benjamin  Thing,  1730,  1 

Peter  Gilman,  1733,  4,  5,  7,  9,  40-42 
5,  9,  52,  5,  8,  62,  5,  8 


Edward  Hall, 
Samuel  Hall, 
Nathaniel  Gilman, 
Zebulon  Giddinge, 

Samuel  Gilman, 
John  Phillips, 


1736 

1736 

1737,  9,  40 

1741,  5,  9,  52,  5, 

8,  62,  5,  8 

1742 

1755,  71 


152 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


John  Giddinge, 

1771,  4,  5,  6 

Nathaniel  Folsom,     17 

74,  5,  8,  82,  3 

Noah  Emery, 

1776 

Thomas  Odiorne, 

1777 

Samuel  Hobart, 

1777, 8 

John  T.  Oilman,       177 

9,  81,  1810,  1 

Ephraim  Robinson, 

1779,  81,  6 

Jedediah  Jewett, 

1782-1784 

Joseph  Cram, 

1782 

Josiah  Oilman,  Jr., 

1785 

Dudley  Odlin, 

1787-1790 

Benjamin  Conner,  Jr., 

1791-1803 

Nathaniel  Oilman, 

1804 

George  Sullivan, 

1805,  13 

Nathaniel  Parker, 

1806-1809 

Oliver  Peabody, 

1812 

Joseph  Tilton,  Jr., 

1814-1822 

John  Kimball, 

1820,  1 

William  Smith,  Jr., 

1822-1824 

Oliver  W.  B.  Peabody, 

1823-1830 

Jeremiah  Dow,      1825- 

1828,  31,  2,  3 

Samuel  T.  Oilman, 

1829 

Nathaniel  Conner, 

1829,  30 

Jotham  Lawrence, 

1831 

John  Rogers, 

1832-1834 

John  SulHvan, 

1834-1837 

William  Odlin,     • 

1835-1837 

William  Perry, 

1838 

Daniel  Conner, 

1838, 9 

Nathaniel  Oilman,  3d, 

1839,  40 

Samuel  Hatch, 

1840 

Woodbridge  Odlin, 

1841 

Josiah  Robinson, 

1841, 2 

Amos  Tuck, 

1842 

Theophilus  Goodwin, 

1843,  4 

Charles  Conner, 

1843, 4 

Oilman  Marston,    1845 

-48,  72,  3,  76 

8,  80,  2,  4,  6 

John  Kelly, 

1845 

James  Bell, 

1846 

William  Wadleigh, 

1846-1848 

George  Gardner,    . 

1847, 8 

John  F.  Moses, 

1849,  50,  1 

Nathaniel  0.  Oilman, 

1849,  50 

Nathaniel  Gordon, 

1849,  50 

Charles  J.  Oilman, 

1851 

Isaac  Flagg, 

1851,  2 

Oren  Head, 
Nathaniel  O.  Perry, 
William  Conner, 
William  W.  Stickney, 
Retire  H.  Parker, 
James  M.  Lovering, 
George  F.  Waters, 
Jeremiah  W.  Marsh, 
Henry  Shute, 
Isaiah  S.  Brown, 
William  B.  Morrill, 
Charles  H.  Bell,        1858- 
Nathaniel  K.  Leavitt, 
Jewett  Conner, 
Moses  N.  Collins, 
Charles  Burley, 
Abraham  P.  Blake, 
Joseph  C.  Hilliard, 
Samuel  D.  Wingate, 
Nathaniel  0.  Giddings, 
Henry  C.  Moses, 
Charles  0.  Conner, 
Joseph  W.  Merrill, 
James  W.  Odlin, 
WilHam  H.  Robinson, 
Andrew  J.  Hoyt, 
Sebastian  A.  Brown, 
Eben  Folsom, 
John  G.  Oilman, 
John  H.  Kimball, 
George  W.  Furnald, 
Jacob  Carlisle, 
Asa  Jewell, 
John  D.  Lyman, 
Thomas  Leavitt, 
Josiah  J.  Folsom, 
Joseph  T.  Porter, 
Horace  S.  Cummings, 
William  Burlingame, 
Alfred  Conner, 
Daniel  Sanborn,  2d, 
Winthrop  N.  Dow, 
Charles  O.  Moses, 
Andrew  J.  Fogg, 
John  J.  Bell, 
Edward  H.  Oilman, 
John  Templeton, 


1852,  3 

1852,  3 

1853,  4 
1854 
1854 

1855-1857 
1855 

1855,  6 

1856,  7 

1857,  8 

1858,  9 
-1860,  72,  3 

1859,  60 

1860,  1 

1861,  2 
1861 

1862,  3 
1862,  3 

1863. 4 
1864,  5 

1864,  5 

1865,  6 

1866,  7 
1866,  7 

1867. 8 

1868. 9 
1868,  9 

1869,  70 

1870, 1 

1870,  1 

1871 

1872, 3 

1874. 5 
1874,  5 
1874,  5 

1876 

1876,  7 
1876 

1877,  8 
1877,  8 

1878 
1878,  80 
1880 
1882 
1882,  4, 6 
1884 
1886 


ECCLESIASTICAL. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  FIEST  SOCIETY. 

The  formation  of  the  First  churcli  in  Exeter,  and  the  events  of 
the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  John  Wheelwright,  have  ah'eady  been 
narrated.  Mr.  Wheelwright  was  not  inclined  to  stay  to  witness 
the  extension  of  the  authority  of  Massachusetts  over  the  settle- 
ment that  he  had  founded,  but  removed  with  his  family,  probably 
in  the  early  spring  of  1643,  to  the  almost  unbroken  forests  of 
Wells,  in  Maine.  But  it  would  not  have  been  lilie  him  to  leave 
his  flock  without  a  shepherd,  and  accordingly  we  find  that  the 
people  were  provided  with  another  religious  teacher,  Mr.  Thomas 
Rashleigh. 

Mr.  Rashleigh  had  been  admitted  to  the  Boston  church  three 
years  before,  being  then  a  student  of  divinity.  In  1641  he  had 
ministered  "  as  chaplain"  to  the  people  of  Cape  Ann,  afterwards 
Gloucester,  in  Massachusetts,  where  there  was  then  no  organized 
church.  He  came  to  Exeter  in  the  spring  of  1643,  no  doubt,  by 
the  desire  of  Mr.  Wheelwright,  and  with  some  intention  of  making 
a  permanent  settlement  there.  On  the  sixth  of  May,  in  that  year, 
the  town  granted  him  a  house  lot,  and  he  undoubtedly  continued 
to  act  as  their  minister  during  the  remainder  of  his  stay  in  the 
place,  which  was  something  less  than  a  twelvemonth.  His  house 
lot,  of  which  the  grant  must  have  been  conditional  only,  -was 
re-granted  by  the  town,  five  years  after  he  went  away,  to  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Dudley.  Why  Mr.  Rashleigh  remained  no  longer  is  not 
known ;  though  the  subsequent  existence  of  two  parties  in  the 
church  or  town,  may  furnish  the  clue  to  his  early  departure. 

In  the  spring  of  1644  some  of  the  inhabitants  made  an  attempt 
to  gather  a  new  church  in  Exeter,  and  to  call  the  aged  Rev. 
Stephen  Bachiler  of  Hampton  to  the  ministry  thereof.  They  went 
so  far  as  to  appoint  a  day  of  humiliation,  on  which  to  carry  both 
these  purposes  into  effect,  but  intelligence  of  their  design  having 
reached  the  ears  of  the  Massachusetts  General  Court,  that  body 

155 


156  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

summarily  overruled  it,  by  adopting,  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  May, 
1644,  the  following  resolution  : 

"Whereas  it  appears  to  this  court  that  some  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Exeter  do  intencl  shortly  to  gather  a  church  and  call  Mr.  Bachiler 
to  be  their  minister,  and  forasmuch  as  the  divisions  and  conten- 
tions which  are  among  the  inhabitants  are  judged  by  this  court 
to  be  such  as  for  the  present  they  cannot  comfortably  and  with 
approbation  proceed  in  so  weighty  and  sacred  affairs  ;  it  is  there- 
fore ordered  that  direction  should  be  forthwith  sent  to  the  said 
inhabitants  to  defer  the  gathering  of  any  church,  or  other  such 
proceeding,  until  this  court  or  the  court  at  Ipswich,  upon  further 
satisfaction  of  their  reconciliation  and  fitness,  shall  give  allowance 
thereunto. 

On  the  same  day  the  General  Court  passed  this  further  order : 

That  Mr.  Wheelwright  (upon  a  particular,  solemn  and  serious 
acknowledgment  and  confession  by  letters  of  his  evil  carriages 
and  of  the  court's  justice  upon  him  for  them*)  hath  his  banish- 
ment taken  off,  and  is  received  as  a  member  of  the  Common- 
wealth. 

The  adoption  of  both  the  foregoing  orders  on  the  same  day 
leaves  little  doubt  of  the  willingness  of  the  government  of  Massa- 
chusetts that  Mr.  Wheelwright  should  return  to  his  charge  in 
Exeter,  if  he  desired.  The  people  evidently  so  understood  it,  for 
immediately  after  learning  the  court's  decision,  they  made  a  grant 
to  Mr.  Wheelwright,  his  heirs  and  successors  forever,  of  certain 
marshland,  "with  these  conditions,  that  he  doth  come  amongst 
us  again."  The  major  part  of  the  inhabitants  having  thus 
evidenced  their  desire  for  their  former  pastor's  return,  it  seems 
unquestionable  that  he  might  have  resumed  his  position  there,  to 
the  general  acceptance. 

But  Mr.  AVheelwright,  for  reasons  satisfactory  to  himself,  did 
not  choose  to  go  back.  And  the  project  of  gathering  another 
church  and  of  settling  Mr.  Bachiler  over  it,  was  very  wisely 
abandoned.  Still  it  is  not  probable  that  the  people,  a  large  pro- 
portion of  whom  were  members  of  the  church,  went  on  without 
some  religious  ministrations.  Mr.  Hatevil  Nutter  was  an  "  exhort- 
ing elder"  of  the  church  of  Dover,  and  the  following  facts, 
gleaned  from  the  records  of  Exeter,  establish  a  strong  probability 
that  he  was  employed  to  minister  to  the  spiritual  wants  of  the 


*  A  careful  perusal  of  Wheelwright's  second  letter  will  show  how  unjust  to  him 
this  statement  is. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  157 

people  of  the  latter  place.  Mr.  Nutter  was  the  owner  of  a  tract 
of  land  at  Lamprey  river,  and  at  least  as  early  as  the  beginning 
of  the  year  1645  the  town  "  covenanted  "  to  inclose  it  with  fence  ; 
and  more  than  once  betwixt  that  time  and  1650  called  upon  all  the 
inhabitants  to  do  their  shares  of  fencing,  under  the  penalty  of 
paying  the  wages  of  others,  who  should  be  hired  in  their  stead. 
Tiie  town  continued  to  render  this  service  for  the  Elder  for  five 
years  ;  and  until  they  had  provided  themselves  with  a  regular 
minister,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Dudley.  Then,  on  June  11,  1650,  Mr. 
Nutter,  by  his  receipt  upon  the  town  book,  acknowledged  that  the 
fence  which  the  town  "  was  engaged  b}^  covenant"  to  set  up  for 
him  at  Lamprey  river,  was  accepted  ;  and  he  was  heard  of  no 
more  in  Exeter. 

In  view  of  Mr.  Nutter's  gifts  as  an  exhorter,  and  in  the  absence 
of  any  other  known  or  imaginable  consideration  for  which  the 
inhabitants  could  have  so  bound  themselves  to  keep  his  land 
inclosed,  it  seems  reasonable  to  infer  that  it  was  done  in  return 
for  his  services  as  a  religious  teacher  among  them,  during  that 
interval  of  five  years  or  more,  while  they  were  without  a  regular 
minister. 

ATTEMPTS    TO    GET    A    PASTOR. 

But  the  town  in  the  meantime  did  not  abate  their  efforts  to 
secure  a  resident  minister.  In  the  spring  of  1646  an  invitation 
was  given  to  Mr.  Nathaniel  Norcross,  a  young  clergyman  and  "  an 
university  scholar,"  to  settle  over  the  church ;  and  on  May  25,  of 
that  3'ear,  it  was  agreed  that  Edward  Hilton  and  Thomas  King 
should  purchase  Mr.  Wheelwright's  house  and  land,  in  the  town's 
behalf,  for  Mr.  Norcross.  Sixteen  of  the  principal  citizens  entered 
into  a  written  agreement  to  be  responsible  to  the  purchasers  for 
the  price  paid,  in  case  the  town  should  fail  to  fully  reimburse 
them.  But  Mr.  Norcross  did  not  accept  the  proposal.  Possibly 
he  may  have  been  deterred  by  the  divisions  which  still  continued 
among  the  people. 

Those  divisions  were  the  subject  of  a  petition  presented  the 
succeeding  year  to  the  Massachusetts  General  Court,  the  great 
tribunal  for  the  redress  of  all  grievances,  civil  and  ecclesiastical ; 
and  the  following  order  was  passed  in  response  thereto  : 

In  answer  to  the  petition  of  some  of  Exeter  the  court  think 
meet  that  Mr.  Ezekiel  Rogers,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Rogers  and  Mr. 
Norton  be  requested  by  this  court  and  authorized  to  examine  the 


158  HISTOEY  OF  EXETER. 

grounds  of  the  complaiiit,  and,  if  it  may  be,  to  compose  things 
amongst  them ;  wliich  if  they  cannot  do,  tlien  to  certify  to  this 
court  what  they  find,  and  also  think  best  to  be  done,  which  may 
conduce  to  peace  and  the  continuance  of  the  ordinances  amongst 
them. 

No  record  is  found  of  the  doings  of  the  committee  under  this 
order,  but  the  people  of  Exeter  were  sufficiently  united,  November 
16,  1648,  to  join  in  a  call  to  the  Rev.  William  Tompson  of 
Braintree,  "  a  worthy  servant  of  Christ,"  to  become  their  minis- 
ter. And  it  was  voted  that  "in  case  he  could  be  attained  to 
come,"  he  should  be  allowed  by  the  town  tliirt}^  pounds  a  year, 
and  the  profits  that  should  accrue  to  the  town  from  the  saw-mill, 
and  the  use  of  the  house  and  land  which  were  purchased  of  Mr. 
Wheelwright,  so  long  as  he  continued  with  them  as  a  minister. 
Christopher  Lawson,  Edward  Gilman  and  John  Legat  were 
appointed  to  present  the  offer  to  him  ;  and  if  he  declined  it,  to 
invite  some  other  person,  with  the  counsel  and  advice  of  the  elders 
of  Boston,  Charlestown  and  Roxbury. 

j\Ir.  Tompson  did  not  see  fit  to  accept  the  call,  and  the  town 
voted  April  22,  1649,  to  invite  Mr.  Joseph  Emerson  of  Rowley, 
to  come  to  Exeter  and  be  the  minister  there  ;  but  they  met  with 
no  better  success  in  this,  than  in  their  preceding  applications. 

MR.    DUDLEY    EXGAGED. 

But  at  length  their  persistent  efforts  to  obtain  a  settled  pastor 
were  rewai'ded  by  a  fortunate  issue,  in  the  engagement  of  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Dudley.  In  anticipation  of  his  coming  and  to  provide 
means  for  his  support,  the  town  by  its  officers  and  leading  citizens, 
on  the  twenty-second  of  April,  1650,  established  this  order: 

Every  inhabitant  of  the  town  shall  pay  for  every  thousand  of 
pipe  staves  he  makes,  two  shillings,  which  shall  be  for  the  mainten- 
ance of  the  ministry  ;  and  for  every  thousand  of  hogshead  staves, 
one  shilling  sixpence  ;  and  for  every  thousand  of  bolts  sold  before 
they  be  made  into  staves,  four  shillings  ;  and  what  is  due  from 
the  saw-mills  shall  also  be  for  the  maintenance  of  the  ministry. 

It  is  ordered  that  after  the  publication  hereof  any  man  that  shall 
deliver  any  staves  or  bolts  before  they  have  satisfied  the  town 
orders,  they  shall  pay  ten  shillings  for  every  thousand  staves,  and 
twenty  shillings  for  every  thousand  bolts. 

And  on  the  thirteenth  of  INIay,  1650,  the  following  agreement 
was  executed  between  a  committee  of  the  town  and  Mr.  Dudley, 
defining  the  terms  of  his  settlement : 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  159 

It  is  unanimously  agreed  upon  b}'  INIr.  Samuel  Dudley  and  the 
town  of  Exeter  that  Mr.  Dudley  is  forthwith  so  soon  as  comforta- 
ble subsistence  can  be  made  by  the  town  for  him  and  his  family  in 
the  house  which  was  purchased  of  Mr.  Wheelwright,  that  then  the 
said  Mr.  Dudley  is  to  come  to  inhabit  at  Exeter  and  to  be  a  minis- 
ter of  God's  word  unto  us,  until  such  time  as  God  shall  be  pleased 
to  make  way  for  the  gathering  of  a  church,  and  then  he  to  be 
ordained  our  pastor  or  teacher  according  to  the  ordinance  of  God. 
And  in  consideration  of  this  promise  of  Mr.  Dudley,  the  town 
doth  mutually  agree  to  fit  up  the  aforesaid  house  and  to  fence  in  a 
yard  and  garden  for  the  said  Mr.  Dudley,  and  to  allow  forty 
pounds  a  year  towards  the  maintenance  of  the  said  Mr.  Dudley 
and  his  family  ;  and  that  the  use  and  sole  improvement  of  the 
aforesaid  house  bought  of  Mr.  Wheelwright,  and  all  the  lands  and 
meadows  thereunto  belonging,  shall  be  to  the  proper  use  of  him 
the  said  Mr.  Dudley,  during  the  time  that  he  shall  continue  to  be 
a  minister  of  the  word  amongst  us.  And  what  cost  the  said  Mr. 
Dudley  shall  bestow  about  the  said  house  and  lauds  in  the  time  of 
his  improvement,  the  town  is  to  allow  unto  him  or  his,  so  much 
as  the  said  house  or  lands  are  bettered  by  it,  at  the  tune  of  the 
said  Mr.  Dudley's  leaving  of  it  either  by  death  or  by  some  more 
than  ordinary  call  of  God  otherwise.  And  it  is  further  agreed 
upon  that  the  old  cow-house,  which  was  Mr.  Wheelwright's,  shall 
by  the  town  be  fixed  up  fit  for  the  setting  of  cattle  in,  and  that 
the  aforesaid  pay  of  £40  a  year  is  to  be  made  in  good  pay  every 
half  year,  in  corn  and  English  commodities  at  a  price  current,  as 
they  go  generally  in  the  country  at  the  time  or  times  of  payment. 

To  the  premises  which  concern  myself  I  consent  unto.  Witness 
my  hand. 

Sam  :  Dudley. 

And  for  the  town's  performance  of  this  part  of  this  aforesaid 
agreement  we  whose  names  are  hereunder  written  do  jointly  and 
severally  engage  ourselves  to  Mr.  Dudley.     AVitness  our  hands. 

Edward  Hilton, 
Edward  Gilman, 
John  Legate, 
Hexry  Roby, 
»  James  AVall, 

Humphrey  Wilson. 

The  people  of  Exeter  were  fortunate  in  indacing  Mr.  Dudley  to 
cast  his  lot  with  them,     A  son  of  Governor  Thomas  Dudley,  and 


ir,0  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

son-in-law  of  Governor  John  Winthrop,  he  had  acquahitance  and 
influence  with  the  principal  characters  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay. 
He  was  born  in  England  about  the  year  1610,  and  passed  the  first 
twenty  years  of  his  life  there,  in  the  society  of  people  of  intelligence 
and  position.  Though  not  bred  at  the  university,  his  education 
had  not  been  neglected,  and  as  early  as  1637  he  was  spoken  of  as 
qualified  for  the  clerical  office,  and  in  1649  is  said  to  have  preached 
at  Portsmouth,  though  it  is  not  known  that  he  was  settled  in  the 
ministry  before  he  came  to  Exeter.  For  the  preceding  twelve 
years  he  had  resided  in  Salisbury,  Massachusetts,  where  he  hatl 
repeatedly  served  as  a  delegate  to  the  General  Court,  and  for  two 
years  had  held  the  office  of  Assistant.  It  is  evident  that  such  a 
man  was  a  great  acquisition  to  the  little  community  of  Exeter. 

The  language  of  Mr.  Dudley's  contract  implies  that  the  church 
which  was  formed  in  Wheelwright's  time  had,  in  the  seven  years 
when  it  was  destitute  of  a  regular  pastor,  lost  its  organization. 
Whether  the  wished  for  opportunity  for  gathering  a  new  church 
occurred  during  Mr.  Dudley's  ministry,  the  books  of  the  town 
afford  us  no  information. 

On  the  twenty-sixth  of  June,  1650,  it  was  ordered  by  the  town 
that  Francis  Swain  have  twenty  shillings  for  his  pains  and  time 
"  in  going  into  the  Bay  to  receive  Mr.  Dudley  his  pay."  This  un- 
doubtedly refers  to  that  clause  of  Mr.  Dudley's  contract  which 
provided  that  his  salary  might  be  paid  in  "  English  commodities." 
Those  were  only  to  be  procured  from  some  trader  in  '•  the  Bay," 
as  Massachusetts  was  commonly  called ;  and,  no  doubt,  Mr. 
Swain  had  been  employed  by  the  town  to  make  inquiry  there  for 
some  person  who  was  willing  to  exchange  those  commodities  for 
lumber  or  such  other  products  as  the  town  could  furnish. 

It  tells  well  for  the  zeal  and  energy  of  the  new  minister  of 
Exeter  that  in  six  weeks  from  the  time  of  his  settlement,  he  in- 
duced the  people  to  pass  a  vote  to  build  a  new  meeting-house.  It 
was  on  the  same  twenty-sixth  of  June,  1650,  and  was  in  these 
terms  : 

Its  agreed  that  a  meeting-house  shall  be  built,  of  twenty  foot 
square,  so  soon  as  workmen  can  conveniently  be  procured  to  do 
it,  and  the  place  appointed  for  it  is  at  the  corner  of  William 
Taylor's  lot  next  the  street,  and  William  Taylor  is  to  have  of  the 
town  20  s.  for  five  rods  square  of  his  laud  in  that  place. 

This  location  was  undoubtedly  upon  the  elevation  on  the  western 
side  of  the  salt  river  afterwards  known  as  "meeting-house  hill." 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  161 

It  is  in  the  northerly  skirt  of  the  present  village,  near  where  Sum- 
mer street  unites  with  the  road  to  Newmarket.  There  is  little 
question,  too,  that  an  earlier  place  of  worship  had  been  situated 
near  the  same  spot,  probably  a  little  northwesterly  of  it,  sur- 
rounded, in  the  English  fashion  of  the  time,  by  a  yard  for  the 
burial  of  the  dead.  On  December  29,  1651,  the  town  gave  Mr. 
Dudley  liberty  to  fence  "the  piece  of  ground  where  the  graves 
are,  and  to  have  the  use  of  it  for  grazing  or  feeding  of  cattle 
whilst  he  stays  in  Exeter,  but  not  to  break  up  the  said  land." 
Uniform  tradition  points  out  this  spot  as  the  earliest  churchyard. 
The  surface  of  the  ground  is  covered  with  clay,  and  is  now 
utilized  for  the  manufacture  of  drain  tiles.  There  was  formerly  a 
brick-yard  there.  From  time  to  time  the  decayed  remains  of 
human  bones  have  been  exhumed  from  the  soil,  which  gave  occa- 
sion for  the  remark,  respecting  a  certain  brick  house  erected  in 
the  town  a  couple  of  generations  ago,  that  it  was  "built  from  the 
dust  of  our  ancestors  ! " 

No  doubt  even  the  light  burden  which  the  town  had  assumed  in 
their  contract  with  their  minister  weighed  somewhat  heavily  upon 
some  of  the  poor  parishioners,  for  an  order  was  agreed  upon, 
December  5,  1650,  that  the  townsmen  should  have  power  to 
"make  a  rate  upon  all  such  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  as  do 
not  voluntarily  bring  in  according  to  their  abilities,  for  the  satis- 
fying of  the  town's  engagement  unto  Mr.  Dudley  for  his  main- 
tenance." 

On  the  same  day  the  town  authorized  Francis  Swain  or  Henry 
Roby,  if  they  could,  to  bargain  with  some  able  merchant  in  the 
Bay,  to  furnish  Mr.  Dudley,  in  exchange  for  hogshead  and  pipe 
staves,  forty  pounds'  worth  of  good  English  commodities,  in  the 
following  May,  for  his  year's  maintenance. 

Before  Mr.  Dudley  had  lived  a  year  in  the  town  he  had  so  won 
the  favor  and  confidence  of  his  people,  that  they  volunteered  to 
defend  his  reputation  when  it  was  assailed  by  the  tongue  of  slander. 
On  the  nineteenth  of  February,  1651,  they  authorized  "the  present 
townsmen,  Henry  Roby,  Thomas  King  and  John  Legate,  to  vindi- 
cate the  credit  and  reputation  of  Mr.  Dudley  against  the  reproach- 
ful speeches  and  calumniation  of  John  Garland,  by  proceeding 
against  him  in  law,  according  to  the  demerit  of  his  [offence]." 
This  John  Garland  had,  a  few  months  before,  been  accused  of 
taking  the  town's  timber  as  an  inhabitant,  without  sufficient  war- 
rant. It  is  not  at  all  unlikely  that  Mr.  Dudley,  who  stood  up 
u 


162  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

manfully  for  the  rights  of  his  parishioners,  was  forward  in  making 
the  accusation,  and  thus  incurred  the  ill-will  and  "reproachful 
speeches"  of  his  defamer.  It  is  not  known  that  a  suit  was 
brought ;  but  is  more  probable  that  the  slanders  were  retracted 
and  apologies  made. 

On  the  first  of  September,  1651,  it  was  determined  that  John 
Warren  should  ' '  go  into  the  Bay  to  receive  the  town's  pay  of  Mr. 
Kimball  for  Mr.  Dudley."  The  repeated  negotiations  for  the 
forty  pounds'  worth  of  English  commodities  had,  therefore,  been 
brought  to  a  successful  termination. 

NEW    HOUSE    OF    WORSHIP. 

The  meeting-house,  which  was  resolved  upon  more  than  a  year 
previously,  was  not  yet  built,  but  it  was  now  voted  to  complete 
it,  by  the  primitive  expedient  of  requiring  all  the  inhabitants  to 
contribute  their  personal  labor  for  the  purpose.  The  order  was 
passed  September  1,  1651,  as  follows: 

That  the  meeting-house  shall  begin  to  be  built  upon  the  next 
second  day  [Monday],  and  a  rate  to  be  made  how  much  work 
every  man  shall  do  towards  it,  and  so  be  called  forth  to  work 
upon  it  by  Thomas  King  and  John  Legate,  as  need  shall  require  ; 
that  the  work  be  not  neglected  till  it  be  finished  ;  and  that  every 
man  that  neglects  to  come  to  work  upon  a  day's  warning  shall 
pay  5  shillings  the  day,  to  be  forthwith  seized  by  the  constable. 

In  spite  of  this  peremptory  vote,  however,  the  meeting-house 
was  not  erected,  nor  apparently  even  begun,  for  more  than  three- 
fourths  of  a  year  afterwards. 

The  following  order  was  therefore  passed,  July  8, 1652  : 

It  is  ordered  that  a  meeting-house  shall  forthwith  be  built,  and 
that  every  man,  both  servants  as  well  as  others,  shall  come  forth 
to  work  upon  it,  as  they  are  called  out  by  the  surveyors  of  the 
work,  upon  the  penalty  of  5  s.  a  day  for  their  neglect ;  and 
teams  are  to  be  brought  forth  to  the  work  by  the  owners,  as  they 
are  called  for  by  the  said  surveyors,  upon  the  penalty  of  10  s.  a 
day  for  their  neglect.  And  the  surveyors  or  overseers  appointed 
for  the  said  work  are  Mr.  Edward  Oilman,  Thomas  King  and 
Edward  Hilton,  Jr.,  and  they  are  to  see  the  work  finished  and  not 
to  have  it  neglected. 


"O* 


There  is  little  doubt  that  this  attempt  proved  successful,  and 
that   the   meeting-house  was  substantially  completed  within  the 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  163 

year.  On  the  twenty-third  of  October,  1652,  John  Robhison  and 
John  Gihnan  were  chosen  as  overseers  of  work  on  the  nieeting- 
honse  in  place  of  Edward  Gihnan  aud  Edward  Hilton,  the  former 
of  whom  was  about  to  sail  for  England,  and  the  latter  was  im- 
mersed in  his  private  business  ;  and  in  August  of  the  year  follow- 
ing, a  return  of  commissioners  appointed  by  the  General  Court  of 
Massachusetts  to  lay  out  the  western  bounds  of  Hampton,  refers 
to  the  "Exeter  meeting-house"  as  an  accomplished  fact.  It  is, 
however,  a  pathetic  illustration  of  the  narrow  resources  and  pov- 
erty of  the  early  settlers,  that  though  their  purpose  was  to  build 
merely  the  most  primitive  structure,  only  twenty  feet  in  extent, 
probably  of  squared  logs,  and  furnished  with  rude  benches  of 
boards  as  they  came  from  the  saw-mill,  yet  in  order  to  accomplish 
it,  they  were  obliged  to  impress  the  services  of  every  inhabitant 
aud  servant,  and  to  occupy  more  than  two  years  of  time.  The 
poor  building,  however,  with  some  additions,  had  to  serve  them 
as  a  place  of  worship  for  over  forty  years. 

DIFFICULTY    OF    PAYING    SALARY. 

The  task  of  raising  Mr.  Dudley's  stipend  was  found  no  easy 
one.  Not  every  person  who  had  the  means,  had  also  the  disposi- 
tion to  contribute.  Captain  Thomas  Wiggin,  as  has  been  else- 
where stated,  resided  in  what  was  known  as  the  Squamscot  patent, 
which  was  not  within  any  township.  He  was,  however,  presuma- 
bly a  member  of  Mr.  Dudley's  congregation,  being  rated  as  such. 
But  he  was  not  prompt  in  paying  his  rates,  and  on  the  fifteenth 
of  December,  1653,  the  town  voted  that  "the  selectmen  have 
power  to  take  some  course  with  Captain  Wiggin  about  Mr.  Dudley's 
rate,  as  they  shall  see  meet."  How  the  captain  adjusted  the 
matter  at  the  time  is  unknown  ;*  but  a  few  years  afterwards,  on 
May  6,  1657,  he  induced  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  to 
pass  an  act  making  his  house  and  property  taxable  in  the  town  of 
Hampton.  This  gave  him  such  vantage  ground  over  the  people 
of  Exeter  that  they  could  not  take  any  legal  "course "  with  him, 
however  delinquent  he  might  prove  ;  and  they  were  fain  to  resort 
to  negotiation.  On  March  4,  1658,  they  empowered  Mr.  Dudley 
and  Mr.  [Edward]  Hilton  "to  treat  with  Captain  Wiggin,  and  to 
agree  with  him  what  annual  payment  he  is  to  make  to  the  town 


*  As  the  captain  was  a  large  holder  of  land,  it  is  possible  that  be  turned  over  to  the 
town  some  tracts  of  it,  to  balance  the  account.  The  town  certainly  received  from 
him  certain  "land  and  meadow,"  for  which  no  other  consideration  is  known. 


164  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

towards  bearing  the  charges  of  the  public  ministry."  Thereafter, 
of  course,  the  captain  paid  no  more  than  he  chose  to  pay.  But 
this  episode  has  carried  us  a  little  in  advance  of  our  main  story. 

After  the  expiration  of  five  years  the  charge  of  maintaining  a 
minister  was  found  almost  too  onerous  for  the  town,  which  had 
lost  some  of  its  inhabitants,  and  was  otherwise  incapacitated,  and 
on  June  13,  165o,  a  new  agreement  was  made  with  Mr.  Dudley 
to  this  effect : 

By  reason  of  the  town's  decreasing  and  other  disabilities,  the 
town  cannot  well  bear  the  burden  of  pa^^ing  him  forty  pounds  a 
year  as  their  minister,  and  he  is  not  willing  to  urge  from  them 
what  they  could  not  comfortably  discharge,  therefore,  the  contract 
between  them,  recorded  on  the  town  books,  is  annulled,  and  he 
lays  down  his  place  as  a  minister ;  and  what  exercises  he  shall 
perform  on  the  Sabbath  day  he  does  as  a  private  person  ;  for  the 
present  summer  he  promises  to  perform  them  constantly  ;  after- 
wards he  is  to  be  at  liberty.  But  so  long  as  he  continues  at  Exeter 
he  promises  to  be  helpful,  what  he  may  with  convenience,  either 
in  his  own  house  or  some  other  which  may  be  appointed  for  the 
Sabbath  exercises. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  town  have  sold  Mr.  Dudley  that  dwelling 
house  wherein  he  lives,  cow-house,  house  lot  and  meadow  with  the 
commonage  and  the  appurtenances  for  which  he  pays  fifty  pounds, 
twenty  of  which  being  half  of  the  rate  due  him  the  present  year  ; 
fifteen  for  which  the  town  is  behindhand  for  former  rates  ;  and 
fifteen  pounds  ' '  in  respect  of  what  labor  shall  be  performed  this 
present  summer." 

And  should  said  Dudley  remove  his  family  from  the  town  he 
promises  to  offer  the  said  premises  to  the  town  for  the  same  price 
of  fifty  pounds  to  be  paid  in  corn,  and  English  goods,  or  in  neat 
cattle  at  an  appraisal ;  and  in  case  of  his  decease  his  family  may 
occupy  the  premises  for  a  year  and  then  the  town  shall  have  the 
said  offer. 

Said  Dudley  wUl  require  nothing  of  the  town  for  what  pains  he 
shall  take  in  performing  Sabbath  exercises  after  this  summer. 

Any  cost  or  charge  laid  out  upon  the  house  by  said  Dudley  after 
he  pays  for  it,  shall  be  reimbursed  to  him  to  the  extent  of  the 
additional  value  thereof,  in  case  of  purchase  by  the  town. 
The  contract  signed  by  Samuel  Dudley, 

JoHK  Oilman,       ") 

Thomas  Pettit,      I  ^*^^'  *^^® 

^\T  TIT  •  town. 

W  illiam  Moore,  j 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  165 

In  the  following  spring  the  people  made  a  new  attempt  to  insure 
a  suitable  support  to  their  minister.  On  the  twenty-eighth  of 
April,  1656,  it  was  agreed  that  for  the  maintenance  of  the  public 
ordinances,  all  the  saw-mills  belonging  to  the  town  should  be 
rated,  as  follows  :  the  old  mill  upon  the  fall,  seven  pounds  ;  Hum- 
phrey Wilson's  mill,  seven  pounds  ;  the  new  mill  of  John  Gilman, 
six  pounds ;  Mr.  Hilton's  mill,  five  pounds.  Those  who  made 
pipe  staves  should  pay  three  shillings  a  thousand,  and  those  who 
made  barrel  staves  two  shillings  a  thousand  therefor  ;  all  for  the 
maintenance  of  the  ministry.  And  in  case  any  maker  should  send 
away  any  staves  without  acquainting  the  town  therewith,  he 
should  forfeit  to  the  town  ten  shillings  for  every  thousand  so  sent 
away.  In  consideration  of  the  saw-mills  being  so  rated,  they  were 
to  be  freed  from  the  rate  which  they  formerly  were  to  pay  the 
town ;  "  but  when  the  ministry  faileth,  the  old  covenant  to  be  of 
force." 

FEA.RS    OF  LOSING    MU.    DUDLEY. 

In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  the  people  of  Portsmouth  made 
an  attempt,  in  which  they  were  nearly  successful,  to  induce  Mr. 
Dudley  to  quit  Exeter  and  settle  in  that  place.  They  voted,  on 
the  twenty-seventh  of  October,  to  give  him  an  invitation .  to  be 
their  minister,  and  to  pay  him  a  salary  of  eighty  pounds  a  year. 
Their  selectmen  were  appointed  a  committee  to  present  him  the 
vote,  and  to  close  a  contract  with  him.  On  November  10  they 
waited  upon  him  and  acquainted  him  with  the  proposal. 

He  is  said  to  have  acceded  to  it,  and  agreed  to  visit  them  the 
next  spring.  But  the  prospect  of  losing  their  minister  stimulated 
the  people  of  Exeter  to  renewed  exertions  to  retain  him.  This  is 
the  record  of  their  action  : 

At  a  full  town  meeting  in  this  place  legally  warned  the  8  day  of 
June  1657,  it  was  ordered  and  agreed  that  so  long  as  Mr.  Dudley 
shall  be  a  minister  in  the  town,  the  town  is  to  pay  him  fifty 
pounds  yearly  in  merchantable  pine  boards  and  in  merchantable 
pipe  staves  at  the  current  price  ;  if  the  boards  and  staves  do  not 
reach  the  said  sum,  the  remainder  to  be  paid  in  merchantable  corn. 
Furthermore  the  dwelling  house,  house  lots  and  other  lots  and  the 
meadow  on  the  west  side  of  the  Exeter  river,  all  formerly  Mr. 
Wheelwright's,  shall  be  confirmed  unto  Mr.  Dudley,  his  heirs  and 
assigns  from  this  time  forever,  notwithstanding  any  promise  or 
engagement  to  the  contrary. 

The  selectmen  of  the  town  shall  yearly,  as  aforesaid,  gather  up 
the  said  sum,  and  in  case  they  be  defective  herein,  to  be  answer- 


166  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

able  to  the  town  for  their  default,  and  to  pay  themselves  what  is 
not  gathered  up  by  them. 

This  last  provision  certainly  indicates  that  the  office  of  select- 
man, in  the  olden  time,  was  no  sinecure  !  The  action  of  the  town, 
however,  induced  Mr.  Dudley  to  forego  any  design  he  may  have 
had  of  leaviuo"  Exeter,  and  he  was  content  to  accept  the  smaller 
stipend  and  continue  among  his  old  parishioners.  The  people 
were  not  ungrateful,  as  the  numerous  grants  of  lands  and  privi- 
leges from  time  to  time  made  him  by  the  town  bear  testimony. 
And  that  they  had  implicit  confidence  in  his  integrity  may  be 
gathered  from  the  final  proviso  in  the  following  resolution,  passed 
in  town  meeting  March  4,  1658  : 

It  was  granted  to  Samuel  Dudley  that  tract  of  land  between 
Griffin  Mountague's  house  lot  and  Mr.  Stanyan's  creek,  lying  all 
on  the  right  hand  of  the  path  next  to  the  river,  upon  consideration 
of  drawing  out  all  the  grants  in  the  town  book  or  any  other  neces- 
sary orders  contained  in  the  same,  which  grants  or  orders  are  to 
be  fairly  written  ;  provided  that  if  there  be  any  grant  or  order 
recorded  formerly  in  any  town  book  to  hinder  this  grant,  then  this 
grant  to  Samuel  Dudley  to  be  of  no  effect,  otherwise  to  stand  in 
force. 

From  time  to  time,  afterwards,  orders  were  adopted  by  the 
town  for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  collection  of  Mr.  Dudley's 
salary. 

On  the  twenty-eighth  of  March,  1662,  it  was  ordered  that  for 
every  thousand  of  heading  and  barrel  staves  that  were  got  out, 
there  should  be  eighteen  pence  allowed  to  the  town's  use,  "  that 
is,  to  the  ministry." 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  April,  1664,  it  was  voted  that  Captain 
John  Clark's  mill  should  pay  five  pounds  annually  to  the  public 
ministry. 

And  on  the  same  day  it  was  determined  that  "  a  lean-to  "  should 
be  added  to  the  meeting-house,  with  a  chimney,  which  should 
serve  as  a  watch-house. 

A  lean-to,  in  the  parlance  of  the  time,  was  an  addition,  usually 
of  one  room,  with  a  single  sloping  roof,  like  a  shed,  such  as  used 
to  be  often  attached  to  the  rear  of  old-fashioned  houses. 

On  the  fifteenth  of  March,  1668,  it  was  voted  that  Lieutenant 
Ralph  Hall  have  full  power  given  him  to  arrest  and  sue  any  inhab- 
itants who  refused  to  pay  to  the  rate  of  the  ministry,  which  he  was 
authorized  to  gather  up  or  to  collect  by  distraint. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  167 

On  the  tenth  of  July,  1671,  it  was  ordered  that  "  instead  of  the 
selectmen  gathering  np  the  minister's  rate,  Mr.  Dudley  is  from 
this  time  forward  to  gather  up  his  rate  himself,  and  instead  of  £40 
yearly  as  heretofore,  there  is  now  granted  to  him  £60  in  such  kind 
of  pay  as  hath  been  formerly  agreed  of."  The  selectmen  were  to 
make  the  rate  yearly,  and  in  case  any  inhabitant  should  refuse  to 
pay  his  rate,  the  selectmen  were  to  empower  Mr.  Dudley  to  "  get 
it  by  the  constable." 

Matters  were  now  so  well  arranged  between  parson  and  people 
that  no  further  action  of  the  town  appears  to  have  been  necessary 
for  a  considerable  period.  But  only  five  years  after  the  last  entry, 
a  most  surprising  and  unaccountable  thing  was  done  at  the  Hamp- 
ton court ;  the  town  of  Exeter  was  presented  for  ' '  letting  their 
meeting-house  lie  open  and  common  for  cattle  to  go  into,"  and  the 
selectmen  were  ordered  under  a  penalty  of  five  pounds  to  cleanse 
the  house,  and  have  the  doors  hung,  and  shut  tight,  etc.  This 
accusation  has  a  formidable  sound,  and  on  the  face  of  it  would 
convey  the  impression  that  the  town  was  guilty  of  gross  negli- 
gence, nearly  approaching  to  sacrilege.  But  that  cannot  be 
believed  of  a  people  who  were  maintaining  at  no  small  cost,  a 
minister  of  high  character  and  much  energy  and  influence.  It 
would  rather  seem  to  be  the  result  of  an  accident  of  a  day,  exag- 
gerated to  the  court  by  some  malicious  mischief-maker.  Those 
were  days  of  few  door  fastenings,  and  of  many  indictments. 
Nothing  further  being  heard  of  the  present  case,  it  is  to  be  pre- 
sumed that  all  suitable  amends  were  made  for  the  misadventure, 
whatever  it  might  have  been. 

Two  years  after  this,  on  the  first  of  April,  1678,  Jonathan 
Thing,  John  Folsom,  Jr.,  Jonathan  Robinson  and  Theophilus 
Dudley  were  chosen  tithing  men  ;  the  first  instance  of  the  election 
of  such  officers  in  the  town,  so  far  as  the  records  show. 

On  the  eighteenth  of  February,  1679,  the  following  order  was 
made  by  the  selectmen,  for  the  better  accommodation  of  the 
church-goers  : 

At  the  request  of  Jonathan  Thing,  Edward  Oilman,  Edward 
Smith,  Peter  Folsom,  Nathaniel  Ladd,  Moses  Leavitt,  for  the 
erecting  of  a  gallery  at  the  end  of  the  men's  gallery,  for  their 
wives,  it  is  granted  unto  them  the  privilege  thereof,  provided  they 
build  the  same  upon  their  own  charge,  leaving  also  room  to  build 
another  end  gallery  if  the  same  be  required.  Also,  the  gallery 
wherein  Edward  Smith,  Biley  Dudley,  Edward  Oilman  and  the 


168  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

rest  do  sit  in,  and  have  upon  theii-  own  proper  charges  built,  we 
do  further  confirm  and  allow  of. 

The  "  other  end  gallery"  was  soon  required.  On  the  second  of 
July,  1680,  the  north  end  of  the  meeting-house  was  granted  to 
Mrs.  Sarah  Wadleigh,  Sarah  Young,  Alice  Gilman,  Abigail  Wad- 
leigh,  Ephraim  Marston's  wife,  Grace  Gilman  and  Mary  Lawrence, 
"there  to  erect  and  set  up  another  gallery  adjoining  the  other 
women's." 

Thus  it  appears  that  the  little  meeting-house  of  twenty  feet 
square,  which  had  been  outwardly  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  a 
lean-to  with  a  chimney,  had  had  its  interior  capacity  increased  by 
two  galleries,  and  was  now  about  to  receive  a  third.  This  denotes 
not  only  a  larger  population,  but  surely  no  diminution  of  religious 
interest. 

In  the  year  1680  the  town  passed  out  of  the  jurisdiction  of 
Massachusetts,  under  the  newly  established  royal  pro\incial  gov- 
ernment of  New  Hampshire.  The  most  notable  effect  which  the 
change  produced  in  parochial  affairs,  was  to  make  the  minister's 
rate  payable  on  the  twentieth  of  March,  instead  of  one  month 
later,  as  before. 

DEATH    OF    MR.    DUDLEY. 

There  was  no  \dsible  sign  of  failure  of  the  powers,  physical  or 
mental,  of  Mr.  Dudley,  as  he  drew  on  to  old  age.  When  he  was 
sixty-nine,  he  was  appointed  upon  a  committee  for  the  equal  dis- 
tribution of  the  town  lands,  a  duty  which  no  feeble  man  would 
have  been  selected  to  perform.  And  during  the  four  years  of  life 
which  still  remained  to  him,  we  do  not  learn  that  his  natural  force 
had  abated,  or  that  he  failed  to  minister  acceptably  to  the  wants 
of  his  people.  He  died  in  Exeter  on  the  tenth  of  February,  1683, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years. 

In  his  death  the  people  of  the  town  suffered  a  serious  loss.  He 
had  become  to  them,  in  his  thirty-three  years  of  service,  much 
more  than  a  religious  teacher.  He  was  an  important  member  of 
the  civil  community,  an  intelligent  farmer,  a  considerable  mill 
owner,  a  sound  man  of  business,  and  the  legal  adviser  and  scrive- 
ner of  the  entire  people.  The  town  intrusted  him  with  its 
important  aft'airs,  and  he  in  return  was  the  stanch  defender  of  its 
interests.  It  is  true  that  he  always  had  a  sharp  eye  to  his  own 
advantage,  but  he  had  a  large  family  to  provide  for,  and  he  was 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  1G9 

never  accused  of  wrong  or  dishonesty.  He  was  a  gentleman  of 
"  good  capacity  and  learning  "  in  his  profession,  and  a  sincere  and 
useful  minister.  Fortunate  was  it  for  Exeter  that  in  its  feeble 
stage  it  was  favored  with  the  counsel  and  example  of  a  man  of 
such  goodness,  and  wisdom  and  practical  sagacity. 

Mr.  Dudley's  remains  rest  in  the  neglected  burying-ground  just 
south  of  the  gas-house,  on  "Water  street,  and,  no  doubt,  beneath 
a  stone  slab  from  which  the  inscription-plate  has  disappeared. 

He  was  thrice  married,  first  in  1632  or  '33,  to  Mary,  the 
daughter  of  Governor  John  Winthrop  of  Massachusetts,  who  died 
in  about  ten  years  ;  second,  to  Mary  Byley  of  Salisbury,  who  died 
in  Exeter  about  a  year  after  her  husband  was  settled  there  ;  and 
third,  to  Elizabeth,  whose  famUy  name  is  not  known.  He  had 
children  by  each  marriage,  and  in  all  ten  sons  and  eight  daughters, 
five  or  six  of  whom  died  before  reaching  maturity.  But  several 
of  each  were  married,  and  lived  in  Exeter,  and  their  descendants 
are  still  numerous  in  the  vicinit3^ 

For  several  years  after  the  decease  of  Mr.  Dudley,  the  town  was 
without  a  settled  pastor.  The  records  are  wanting  between  1682 
and  the  latter  part  of  1689,  and  no  tradition  has  survived  to  tell 
us  what  religious  privileges  were  within  the  reach  of  the  inhabi- 
tants during  that  period.  But  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  a 
people  who  had  recently  provided  increased  accommodations  in 
their  meeting-house  would  long  permit  them  to  go  unimproved.  It 
is  altogether  probable  that  temporary  engagements  were  made  with 
such  clergymen  as  could  be  procured,  to  perform  clerical  duty. 
From  outside  sources  we  learn  that  in  the  latter  part  of  1684  the 
Rev.  John  Cotton,  son  of  the  Rev.  Seaborn  Cotton  of  Hampton, 
was  li^ang,  and  officiating,  in  a  ministerial  capacity,  in  Exeter, 
but  how  long  he  continued  there,  we  cannot  ascertain.  From 
that  time  forward  we  have  no  definite  information,  until  October 
6,  1690,  when  the  town 

Voted,  That  Elder  William  Wentworth  is  to  be  treated  with  for 
his  continuance  with  us  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  in  this  town 
for  one  complete  year  ensuing.  The  men  chosen  to  treat  with  him 
are  Biley  Dudley,  Kinsley  Hall  and  Moses  Leavitt. 

William  Wentworth,  when  just  arrived  at  man's  estate,  was  one 
of  the  original  settlers  of  Exeter.  After  a  residence  there  of  five 
years,  he  quitted  the  place,  in  company  with  Mr.  Wheelwright, 
and  tarried  a  while  in  Wells,  and  then  established  his  permanent 


170  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

home  ill  Dover.  There  he  had  become  a  leading  elder  in  the 
church.  And  now,  after  near  half  a  century's  absence,  he  was 
called  back  to  the  scene  of  his  earliest  American  experience,  to 
occupy  the  honorable  and  responsible  post  of  religious  teacher. 
How  long  he  had  already  so  officiated  in  Exeter  we  have  not  the 
data  to  determine,  but  as  he  was  to  be  employed  to  "  continue  "  his 
work  there,  it  is  clear  that  this  was  not  the  beginning  of  it.  Nor 
was  it  the  end  ;  for  on  October  6,  1691,  William  Moore  and  Peter 
Coffin  were  chosen  to  treat  with  Elder  Wentworth  to  supply  and 
carry  on  the  work  of  the  ministry  in  the  town  the  ensuing  year ; 
and  on  March  30,  1693,  after  having  voted  that  the  salary  payable 
to  the  minister  shall  be  accounted  a  necessary  town  charge,  the 
town  agreed  with  Mr.  William  Wentworth  "  to  supply  and  perform 
the  office  of  a  minister  one  whole  year,  if  he  be  able  ;  and  if  per- 
formed, the  town  do  promise  to  pay  him  the  sum  of  forty  pounds 
in  current  pa^^,  or  proportionable  to  any  part  of  the  year." 

But  Mr.  Wentworth  had  reached  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years, 
and,  though  his  life  was  still  somewhat  further  prolonged,  he  had 
probably  become  unable,  by  reason  of  natural  infirmities,  to 
comply  with  their  proposal.  It  soon  became  necessary,  therefore, 
to  look  elsewhere  for  a  minister. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  FIRST  SOCIETY  AND  ITS  OFFSHOOTS. 

The  first  step  which  the  town  took  for  the  purpose  of  finding  a 
suitable  minister  was  highly  characteristic  of  the  simplicity  of 
the  times  and  of  the  deference  then  paid  to  the  judgment  of  the 
clergy.  On  the  twenty-third  of  June,  1693,  John  Oilman  and 
Biley  Dudley  were  selected  in  behalf  of  the  town  "to  go  to  the 
neighboring  ministers  and  take  their  advice  for  a  meet  person  to 
suppW  the  office  of  the  ministry  in  the  town  of  Exeter." 

In  less  than  three  months  the  desired  person  was  found,  and 
on  the  eighteenth  of  September,  John  Oilman,  Peter  Coffin  and 
Robert  Wadleigh  were  appointed  to  "treat  with  Mr.  John  Clark, 
and  procure  him  to  come  to  this  town  to  be  our  minister."  A 
month  later,  it  was  voted  to  empower  the  same  committee  to 
"  agree  with  Rev.  John  Clark  to  be  our  iiiinister,  and  what  salary 
they  do  agree  with  him  for  the  first  half  year,  the  town  do  engage 
to  pay." 

There  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  Mr.  Clark  was  at  once 
engaged,  and  that  he  performed  satisfactorily  his  clerical  functions 
in  Exeter  during  the  stipulated  six  months  ;  for  at  the  end  of  that 
period,  on  the  twentieth  of  April,  1694,  the  town  began  to  take 
measures  for  securing  a  parsonage. 

Peter  Coffin,  Robert  Wadleigh  and  Richard  Hilton  were  chosen 
in  behalf  of  the  town  to  treat  with  and  buy  from  Captain  John 
Oilman,  Moses  Oilman,  Sr.,  Humphrey  Wilson,  Samuel  Leavitt, 
John  Folsom,  Peter  Folsom,  Jonathan  Thing  and  John  Wadleigh, 
' '  a  certain  house  and  land  lying  and  being  near  unto  the  present 
meeting-house,  and  to  be  improved  by  the  town  for  the  use  and 
benefit  of  the  ministry  of  the  town  for  the  time  being ;  and  what 
they  agree  therefor,  the  town  will  pay  by  way  of  rate  upon  the 
inhabitants,  as  the  law  directs  ;  and  the  committee  is  empowered 
to  finish  the  house  and  make  it  habitable  for  the  minister  forth- 
with, and  to  repair  the  fences  about  the  land,  and  to  inquire  the 

171 


172  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

expense  of  redeeming  the  marsh  at  Wheelwright's  creek,  common- 
ly called  the  town  marsh  ;  and  whatever  the  committee  jndge  to 
be  due  for  the  premises  to  report  to  the  selectmen,  and  they  to 
make  rate  for  the  same  upon  the  inhabitants." 

A  later  record,  however,  renders  it  unlikely  that  the  authorized 
purchase  was  ever  made.  The  house  referred  to  was  situated  near 
"  the  present  meeting-house  ;"  but  it  was  soon  after  determined 
to  build  a  new  place  of  worship,  which  the  town  located  at  quite 
a  distance  from  the  former ;  and  in  view  of  that  contingency  the 
committee  very  probably  thought  the  selection  of  a  parsonage 
were  better  postponed. 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  April,  1695,  the  town  gave  authority  to 
the  selectmen  to  make  a  "  Ratt  (rate)  for  the  use  of  the  ministry 
according  to  the  province  law." 

A   NEW    MEETING— HOUSE. 

In  the  following  January  the  important  question  of  erecting  a 
new  house  of  worship  was  mooted  ;  and  at  a  town  meeting  held 
on  the  twentieth  day  of  that  month,  after  debate  in  the  matter, 
the  major  part  of  the  freeholders  of  the  town  voted  that  there  was 
great  need  to  build  a  meeting-house,  "where  the  worship  and 
service  of  God  may  be  performed,  and  that  the  same  should  be 
erected  on  the  hill  between  the  great  fort  and  Nat.  Folsom's 
barn."  Peter  Coffin,  Samuel  Leavitt  and  Moses  Leavitt  were 
appointed  building  committee. 

This  location  was  upon  the  little  elevation  on  which  the  First 
church  now  stands.  Old  residents  remember  that  there  was  for- 
merly more  of  an  ascent  than  now  from  the  street  to  the  church, 
which  has  been  diminished,  perhaps,  by  the  continual  raising  of 
the  grade  of  the  road-bed  and  the  sidewalk. 

It  was  afterwards  ordered  that  Captain  Coffin  should  keep  the 
account  of  the  inhabitants'  labor  upon  the  meeting-house,  and 
that  men  should  have  but  three  shillings  a  day  for  their  work,  and 
lads  what  the  committee  should  order. 

The  meeting-house  was  completed  in  due  time,  and  was,  of 
course,  much  more  spacious  than  the  little  building  which  it  super- 
seded. It  stood,  perhaps,  a  little  nearer  to  the  street  than  the 
present  First  church,  and  had  doors  at  the  east  and  west  ends,  the 
pulpit  on  the  north  side,  and  stau-s  leading  to  a  women's  gallery 
on  the  south  side.     Round  the  walls  were  erected  the  pews,  the 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  173 

privilege  of  which  was  purchased  by  the  well-to-do  worshippers, 
and  the  middle  space  was  probably  occupied  with  benches.  These 
latter  seats  were  public  property,  aud  were  assigned  to  the  mem- 
bers of  the  congregation  who  had  no  pews,  according  to  seniority 
and  social  position,  probably,  by  a  committee  chosen  for  the 
purpose. 

On  the  seventh  of  December,  1696,  the  new  structure  was  so 
far  completed  that  the  first  assemblage  of  the  town  for  business 
purposes  was  held  in  it ;  when  Joseph  Smith  of  Hampton  and 
John  March  of  Greenland  ( ?)  were  chosen  to  decide  the  contro- 
versy among  the  inhabitants  about  "seating"  the  meeting-house, 
that  is,  designating  the  seats  to  be  occupied  by  the  several  families 
and  individuals  of  the  congregation  who  had  not  pews.  It  was 
a  difiicult  and  delicate  task  to  give  to  every  one  just  the  place  to 
which  he  considered  himself  entitled,  and  the  referees  were  author- 
ized to  select  an  umpire  in  case  they  could  not  agree.  And  in 
order  that  they  might  have  the  assistance  of  persons  acquainted 
with  the  standing  and  claims  of  all  the  parties  interested,  the  town 
appointed  Peter  Coffin,  Moses  Leavitt,  Theophilus  Dudley  and 
William  Moore,  to  meet  the  referees  and  "  lay  the  case  before 
them,"  within  sixteen  days. 

But  seating  the  meeting-house  was  apparently  no  easy  matter, 
for  it  was  not  until  more  than  a  year  had  passed  that  the  business 
was  finally  settled.  At  a  town  meeting  held  February  3,  1698,  it 
was  voted  that  "the  new  meeting-house  should  be  seated  by  the 
committee  now  chosen,  William  Moore,  John  Smart,  Biley  Dud- 
ley, Kinsley  Hall,  Samuel  Leavitt  and  Moses  Leavitt,  and  they 
have  full  power  to  seat  the  people  in  their  places,  and  to  grant 
places  for  pews  to  whom  they  seem  meet ;  and  those  men  that 
have  places  for  pews  shall  sit  in  them  with  their  families,  and 
'  not  be  seated  nowhere  else.'  " 

And  on  the  same  day  the  committee  assigned  places  for  pews 
to  the  following  persons  : 

To  Kinsley  Hall,  his  wife  and  five  children,  at  the  west  door. 

To  Moses  Leavitt  and  his  family,  at  the  left  hand  of  said  Hall's 
pew. 

To  Edward  Hilton,  for  himself  and  wife,  and  son  Winthrop,  and 
his  wife  and  two  daughters,  Mary  and  Sobriety,  on  the  north  side 
of  the  meeting-house  joining  to  the  pulpit  and  Moses  Leavitt's 
pew. 

To  Richard  Hilton,  for  himself,  and  wife  and  four  children,  his 
mother  and  sister  Rebecca,  on  the  north  side  of  the  meeting-house 
joining  to  the  parsonage  pew. 


174  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

To  Mr.  [Humphrey]  Wilson  and  his  wife,  and  his  son  Thomas, 
and  two  daughters,  Martlia  Wilson  and  Mary,  and  Elizabeth 
Gilman,  joining  to  Richard  Hilton's  pew  on  the  east  side  of  the 
meeting-house. 

To  Nicholas  Gilman  and  his  wife,  and  John  Gilman,  and 
Alice  and  Catharine  Gilman,  joining  to  Mr.  Wilson's  pew  and 
the  east  door. 

To  Captain  Robert  Wadleigh  and  his  wife,  and  his  son  Jona- 
than Wadleigh,  at  the  south  side  of  the  meeting-house  joining  to 
the  women's  stairs. 

To  Robert  Cottin  and  his  wife,  and  Elizabeth  Coffin,  and  the 
widow  Coffin  and  her  children,  joining  to  Captain  Wadleigh's 
pew. 

To  Jeremiah  Gilman  and  his  family,  joining  to  the  south  door. 

To  Simon  Wiggiu  and  his  family,  joining  to  Jeremiah  Gilman's 
pew. 

In  the  meantime  the  new  minister  appears  to  have  conducted  in 
his  office  in  a  most  discreet  and  satisfactory  fashion,  so  that  on 
November  4,  1697,  the  town  gave  him  "one  hundred  acres  of 
land  upon  the  neck,  provided  he  lives  in  the  town  ten  years  after 
this,  and  if  he  should  die  before  the  end  of  ten  years,  the  laud  to 
fall  to  his  heirs."  It  was  also  voted  to  add  ten  pounds  to  his 
salary  "if  he  take  care  of  the  parsonage  [lands]  and  provide  him- 
self with  wood."  And  on  March  28,  1698,  the  town  voted  that 
Mr.  Clark  ' '  be  considered  for  what  charge  he  be  out  upon  the 
hundred  acres  of  land,  provided  he  be  drowf  (drove?)  away  out 
of  town  within  seven  years  after  the  grant." 

On  the  twenty-sixth  of  August,  1698,  this  definite  arrangement 
was  made  with  Mr.  Clark  for  his  stipend  : 

Whereas  it  was  agreed  with  Rev.  Mr.  Clark  that  he  should  have 
60  1.  salary,  but  now  voted  that  he  shall  have  10  1.  more  to  find 
him  in  firewood  and  keep  the  fences  in  repair,  being  70  1.  in  all, 
together  with  use  of  parsonage  lands  and  meadows. 

And  at  the  same  time  : 

Voted,  That  a  church  be  gathered,  and  Mr.  Clark  ordained  Sep- 
tember 21,  and  a  day  of  humiliation  be  held  the  7  day  of  same 
mouth,  aud  Captain  Peter  Coffin,  Captain  [Kinsley]  Hall  and 
Theophilus  Dudley  were  chosen  to  make  provision  for  same. 

RE-ORGANIZATION    OF    THE    CHURCH. 

Accordingly,  on  the  day  fixed,  the  young  minister  duly  received 
ordination  at  the  hands  of  several  neighboring  clergymen,   and 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  175 

was  placed  in  charge  of  the  church,  which  had  been  re-organized 
on  the  Sunday  preceding,  when  a  covenant  and  confession  of  faith 
were  subscribed  by  the  following  members  : 

John  Clark,  pastor  Peter  Coffin 

John  Oilman  William  ^Nloore 

Thomas  Wiggin  Kinsley  Hall. 

Nicholas  Oilman  Eichard  Glidden 

Theophilus  Dudley  Elizabeth  Oilman 

Samuel  Leavitt  Elizabeth  Clark 

Byley  Dudley  Judith  Wilson 

Moses  Leavitt  ■Margaret  Bean 

John  Folsom  Sarah  Dudley 

Henry  Wadleigh  Deborah  S  inkier 

Jonathan  Robinson  Deborah  Coffin 

Thomas  Dudley  Sarah  Sewell 

John  Scrivener  Mehitabel  Smith 

There  must  have  been  an  understanding  that  the  town  was  also 
to  furnish  a  habitation  for  the  minister,  which  had  not  been  com- 
plied with,  since  on  the  first  of  May,  1G99,  it  was  voted  to  pay  Mr. 
Clark  one  hundred  pounds,  in  consideration  that  he  relinquished 
his  claim  for  a  parsonage  house  during  his  life. 

The  new  church  was  not  considered  quite  complete  without 
some  means  of  calling  the  congregation  together,  and  on  the  fifth 
of  September,  1699,  it  was  voted  that  a  bell  should  be  bought  of 
Mr.  Coffin  for  the  use  of  the  town,  and  Henry  Wadleigh  and 
Samuel  Thing  were  appointed  to  agree  with  him  for  it,  and  get  it 
hung.  From  that  time  to  the  present,  now  nearly  two  hundred 
years,  the  summons  to  the  inhabitants  to  assemble  for  public  wor- 
ship on  Sundays,  and  the  proclamation  of  mid-day  and  of  nine 
o'clock  at  night  on  every  day  of  the  year,  have  been  rung  out  from 
the  towers  of  the  successive  meeting-houses  of  the  First  church. 

The  estimation  in  which  Mr.  Clark  continued  to  be  held  by  his 
people,  is  shown  by  a  vote  of  the  town,  passed  the  first  Monday 
of  April,  1704,  that  his  rate  be  made  distinct  by  itself,  and  that  a 
contribution  be  forthwith  set  up  for  him.  The  "contribution"  is 
understood  to  mean  a  box  for  the  offerings  of  casual  attendants  at 
church.  Such  gifts  were  termed  "  strangers'  money,"  and  the 
purpose  of  the  town  was  to  appropriate  them  to  the  benefit  of  the 
pastor. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  town,  on  the  first  Monday  of 
April,  1705,  it  was  decided  that  the  old  meeting-house  should  be 


176  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

sold  by  the  selectmen,  and  a  school-honse  built   at  the  town's 
charge,  and  set  below  Jonathan  Thing's  house  next  the  river. 


DEATH    OF    MR.    CLARK. 

But  on  July  25,  1705,  the  connection  so  happily  formed  between 
the  town  and  its  minister  was  dissolved  by  his  death,  at  the  early 
age  of  thirty-five.  Mr.  Clark  was  a  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Eliza- 
beth (Somersby)  Clark  of  Newbury,  Massachusetts,  and  was  born 
January  24,  1670.  He  graduated  from  Harvard  College  at  the  age 
of  twenty,  and  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Benjamin 
Woodbridge  of  Medford,  Massachusetts.  Mrs.  Clark's  grand- 
mother was  a  sister  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Dudley,  and  Mr.  Clark's 
widow  married  the  Rev.  John  Odlin,  and  was  the  mother  of  the 
Rev.  Woodbridge  Odlin,  both  of  Exeter ;  so  that  the  settled 
clergymen  of  the  town  from  1650  to  1776,  more  than  a  century 
and  a  quarter,  were  connected  by  the  ties  of  blood  or  marriage. 

Mr.  Clark  left  four  children,  and  an  estate  appraised  at  about 
a  thousand  pounds,  of  which  his  "library  of  books"  was  valued 
at  twenty  pounds.  He  was  a  man  of  piety  and  much  usefulness, 
and  had  evidently  attached  his  people  to  him  in  an  extraordinary 
degree.  They  paid  to  his  widow  the  full  amount  of  his  salary, 
and  erected  a  tomb  over  his  remains  at  the  expense  of  the  town, 
and  made  repairs  upon  it,  twenty  years  afterwards.  His  body 
reposes  in  the  yard  of  the  First  church,  and  over  it  were  inscribed 
these  lines : 

A  prophet  lies  under  this  stone, 
His  words  shall  live,  tho'  he  be  gone. 

When  preachers  die  what  rules  the  pulpit  gave 

Of  living,  are  still  preached  from  the  grave. 

The  faith  and  life  which  your  dear  Pastor  taught 

Now  in  the  grave  with  him,  sirs,  bury  not. 

On  the  first  of  August,  1705,  the  town  took  the  primary  steps 
for  finding  a  successor  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Clark,  by  appointing  Peter 
Coffin,  Samuel  Leavitt  and  Moses  Leavitt  to  "  take  care  of  the 
ministers  who  come  to  preach,  till  a  day  of  humiliation,  which  was 
fixed  for  the  last  day  of  August,  and  to  take  advice  of  said  minis- 
ters or  of  any  whom  they  see  good,  where  the  town  may  be 
supplied  with  a  minister  suitable  for  the  town." 

On  the  third  of  September,  Samuel  Leavitt,  Moses  Leavitt, 
Theophilus  Dudley,  Simon  Wiggin,  Richard  Hilton  and  Jonathan 


HISTORY^OF  EXETER.  177 

Thing  were  chosen  a  committee  to  provide  preaching  for  three 
months  ;  and  Nicholas  Gilman  and  Jonathan  Thing,  to  "  give  Mr. 
Adams,  Mr.  Whiting  or  Mr.  Curwin  (?)  a  call  to  carry  on  the 
work  of  the  ministry  among  us  ;"  their  time  and  expenses  to  be 
paid  by  the  town. 

On  the  twelfth  of  November,  1705,  Peter  Coffin,  Samuel  Leavitt 
and  Moses  Leavitt  were  appointed  a  committee  to  call  a  minister, 
in  order  to  a  full  settlement,  if  the  town  and  said  minister  agree  ; 
and  at  a  town  meeting  on  the  first  Monday  of  April,  1706,  it  was 
voted  to  give  Mr.  [John]  Odlin  a  call  "to  carry  on  the  work 
of  the  ministry  in  this  town,  and  that  the  following  persons  be 
empowered  to  make  full  agreement  with  Mr.  Odlin  about  salary 
and  other  things  needful,  viz.  :  Peter  Coffin,  Winthrop  Hilton, 
Theophilus  Dudley,  Richard  Hilton,  Samuel  Leavitt,  Moses 
Leavitt,  Simon  AViggiu,  David  Lawrence,  Theophilus  Smith  and 
Samuel  Thing." 


ENGAGEJIENT   OF  MR.    JOHN    ODLIX. 

The  committee  agreed  with  Mr.  Odlin  that  he  should  receive 
seventy  pounds  a  year  salary,  with  the  use  of  the  parsonage  lands 
and  meadow,  and  the  "strangers'  contribution  money,"  and  two 
hundred  acres  of  land  on  the  commons,  and  one  hundred  pounds 
besides,  in  three  payments  within  one  year ;  also  five  pounds 
yearly  for  wood,  "  if  the  town  see  it  convenient."  And  on  the 
next  annual  meeting  on  the  first  Monday  of  April,  1707,  it  was 
voted  that  "  the  contribution  be  set  up,  and  begin  next  Sabbath, 
and  the  inhabitants  to  paper  their  mone3's  with  their  names  upon 
the  paper ;  and  they  that  don't  paper,  it  shall  be  accounted 
strangers'  money." 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Odlin  was  ordained  over  the  society  on  the 
twelfth  of  November,  1706,  being  then  in  the  twenty-fourth  year 
of  his  age.  As  he  had  on  the  twenty-first  of  the  preceding  Octo- 
ber married  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Clark,  the  widow  of  his  predecessor, 
it  is  probable  that  he  had  preached  in  Exeter  for  some  time  before. 
For  some  years  after  his  settlement,  very  little  appears  upon  the 
records  in  relation  to  parochial  affairs  ;  evidence  that  minister  and 
people  were  well  satisfied  with  one  another. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  in  1711,  it  was  determined  that  the 
minister's  rate  be  made  single  by  itself,  for  time  to  come  ;  and  in 
1713   ten   pounds  were    added  to   Mr.  Odlin's  salary,  making   it 

12 


178  HISTOEY  OF  EXETER. 

eighty  pounds  a  year.  Again  in  1718  the  town  voted  another 
increase  of  ten  pounds  to  Mr.  Odlin's  salary,  and  the  selectmen 
were  empowered  to  make  a  rate  for  the  same.  There  were  two 
very  good  reasons  for  these  increments  of  salary ;  first,  the 
enlargement  of  the  minister's  family  by  the  birth  of  four  or  five 
children,  and  second,  the  introduction  of  paper  currency,  which 
raised  the  prices  of  the  necessaries  of  life.  The  latter  cause  went 
on  increasing,  as  we  shall  see  later,  for  a  generation  and  more. 

In  1720  the  town  voted  to  add  still  another  ten  pounds  to  Mr. 
Odlin's  salary  ;  in  1722  to  make  the  minister's  rate  by  itself,  to  be 
paid  in  cash,  and  that  the  selectmen  raise  money  to  repair  the 
meeting-house,  what  is  necessary;  and  in  1725  voted  another 
increase  of  twenty  pounds  to  the  salary. 

PARISH    OF    NEWMARKET    SET    OFF. 

Up  to  the  3'ear  1727  the  whole  township  of  Exeter  was  a  single 
parish.  Its  dianensions,  if  it  had  been  a  perfect  square,  would 
have  been  more  than  nine  miles  on  every  side.  The  labors  of  the 
minister,  in  performing  his  pastoral  duties  throughout  such  an 
extent  of  territory,  must  have  been  extremely  arduous  ;  while  the 
scattered  inhabitants  in  the  more  distant  parts  of  the  town  were 
often  deprived  of  the  privilege  of  attending  religious  worship.  It 
is  not  strange,  therefore,  that  the  little  communities  of  outlying 
inhabitants,  as  soon  as  they  were  strong  enough  to  maintain  min- 
isters for  themselves,  desired  to  be  cut  loose  from  the  mother 
parish.  But  as  the  law  then  stood,  all  residents  in  a  town  were 
liable  to  taxation  to  support  the  established  ministry  in  it,  unless 
they  were  released  from  the  obligation  by  the  consent  of  a  majority 
of  the  inhabitants,  or  by  a  legislative  enactment. 

The  first  part  of  old  Exeter  to  ask  a  separation  for  parochial 
purposes,  was  the  northeastern  quarter,  the  territory  which  now 
constitutes  in  the  main,  the  towns  of  Newmarket  and  South  New- 
market. A  petition  for  that  object,  subscribed  by  upwards  of 
thirty  of  the  residents  of  that  section,  was  in  the  early  part  of  the 
year  1727  presented  to  the  selectmen;  and  at  a  meeting  of  the 
town  held  on  the  ninth  of  October,  1727,  it  was 

Voted,  That  the  petitioners  of  the  north  part  of  the  town  (being 
more  than  30  in  number)  shall  be  set  off  to  be  a  parish  by  them- 
selves, and  bounded  as  follows  :  beginning  at  the  south  side  of 
Major  Nicholas  Oilman's  farm,  next  to  the  town,  beginning  at  the 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  179 

salt  river  and  from  thence  to  run  a  cross  northwest  line  4  miles 
into  the  woods,  and  from  thence  to  run  a  north  and  by  east  line 
while  it  comes  to  Dover  line,  and  so  bounding  upon  Dover  line 
east  and  by  north  to  the  extent  of  the  town's  bounds,  and  so 
bounding  upon  the  salt  water  to  the  bounds  first  mentioned  ;  pro- 
vided that  the  above  said  parisli  do  settle  an  orthodox  minister  and 
do  pay  the  minister  themselves  at  their  own  charge,  that  then  the 
said  new  parish  shall  be  excused  from  paying  to  the  ministry  of 
the  old  parish. 

The  new  parish,  which  received  the  name  of  Newmarket,  was 
incorporated  December  15,  1727.  But  apparently  it  was  not  till 
more  than  five  years  afterwards,  that  it  was  fully  emancipated 
from  its  obligations  to  pay  taxes  to  Exeter  for  municipal  purposes. 


A   NEW    MEETING-HOUSE. 

In  1728,  November  16,  at  a  meeting  of  the  "First  parish  in  Exe- 
ter," a  vote  was  passed  that  a  new,  meeting-house  should  be  built 
and  set  on  "  some  part  of  that  land  which  the  present  meeting- 
house standeth  on,  which  land  the  town  purchased  of  Captain 
Peter  Coffin  for  that  use." 

This  resolution  was  probably  rendered  necessary  by  the  increase 
of  population  consequent  on  the  termination  of  the  Indian  wars. 
Men  had  now  ceased  to  carry  their  guns  with  them  to  church,  and 
the  tide  of  immigration  into  the  frontier  settlements  had  resumed 
its  normal  flow. 

But  the  early  meeting-houses  were  of  slow  growth,  and  it  was 
nearly  a  year  later  before  the  next  step  was  taken.  On  the  eighth 
of  October,  1729,  it  Avas  voted  that  the  proposed  meeting-house 
should  be  sixty  feet  long  and  forty-five  feet  wide,  and  have  two 
tiers  of  galleries.     And  at  an  adjourned  meeting, 

Voted,  That  the  meeting-house  to  be  built  shall  stand  near  our 
present  meeting-house  where  our  committee  shall  order ;  shall  be 
built  and  finished  as  soon  as  may  be  with  economy  within  two 
years  ;  that  there  be  as  many  pews  built  therein  as  may  be  with 
conveniency,  and  sold  by  the  committee  to  those  that  will  pay 
down  the  money  for  them  for  paying  for  the  building  of  the  house  ; 
that  the  committee  shall  be  allowed  nothing  for  their  trouble  and 
charge  until  the  house  be  finished,  and  then  no  more  than  what 
shall  be  allowed  them  by  a  committee  of  three  men  chosen  by  the 
inhabitants  to  examine  their  accounts.  Major  John  Oilman, 
Jonathan  Wadleigh,  Nicholas  Gordon,  Bartholomew  Thing  and 
John  Robinson  were  chosen  committee  to  carry  on  the  work. 


180  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

On  the  next  annual  meeting  of  the  town  March  30,  1730,  it  was 

Voted,  That  those  inhabitants  of  the  First  parish  who  are 
desirous  of  having  a  steeple  to  the  meeting-house  now  a-building, 
shall  have  liberty  to  build  and  join  a  steeple  to  the  said  house, 
provided  it  be  built  wholly  by  subscription  and  no  charge  to  the 
town. 

The  meeting-house  was  raised  July  7  and  8,  1730,  and  com- 
pleted, with  due  economy  no  doubt,  within  the  stipulated  period 
of  two  years,  so  that  it  was  occupied  on  Thanksgiving  day, 
August  28,  1731.  John  Folsom  is  said  to  have  been  the  master 
workman.  The  dimensions  of  the  building  were  fixed  by  vote  of 
the  town.  It  had  two  galleries  and  a  broad  aisle  running  up  to 
the  pulpit,  on  each  side  of  which  were  benches  for  those  of  the 
congi-egation  who  did  not  own  pews.  They  were  assigned  seats 
by  a  committee,  who  took  into  consideration  their  several  ages, 
infirmities  and  social  standing.  The  pews  were  generally  situated 
around  the  sides  of  the  house,  and  appear  to  have  been  thirty-two 
in  number,  besides  ten  in  the  lower  gallery.  In  March  and  April, 
1731,  the  pews  on  the  main  floor  were  sold,  and  were  purchased 
at  the  prices  and  by  the  persons  named  below  : 

No.  14  to  Maj.  Nicholas  Oilman  for  £21. 

24  Capt.  Theophilus  Smith  16. 

15  Lieut.  Bartholomew  Thing  21. 

20  Dr.  Thomas  Dean  15. 

30  Capt.  Eliphalet  Coffin  18.10 
19  Capt.  Peter  Oilman  13.10 

31  Dea.  Thomas  Wilson  13. 
13  Jonathan  Oilman  23. 
10  Nathaniel  Webster  11. 

21  Francis  Bowden  12. 
12  Samuel  Conner  20. 

32  Edward  Ladd  17. 

22  Capt.  Jonathan  Wadleigh  15. 

25  Capt.  James  Leavitt  16. 

23  Lieut.  John  Robinson  20. 

5  Benjamin  Thing  12.10 
4  Nathaniel  Bartlett  16.10 
9        Samuel  Oilman                                  13. 

18  Daniel  Oilman  13.5 

6  Dea.  John  Lord  12.15 

16  Nathaniel  Oilman  17. 
8  Mrs.  Hannah  Hall  13.5 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  181 


No. 


3 

to  Ezekiel  Oilman  for 

£20. 

29 

Caleb  Gilman 

17. 

27 

Thomas  Webster 

17. 

11 

Capt.  John  Gilman,  Jr. 

21. 

28 

Jeremiah  Conner 

20.10 

7 

Col.  John  Gilman 

13.5 

2 

Jonathan  Conner 

21.15 

1 

Mr.  John  Odlin 

15. 

17 

Col.  John  Gilman 

12.13 

And  on  the  seventh  of   November,   1731,  the  following  sales 
were  made  of  pews  in  the  lower  gallery : 

No. 


9 

to  Col.  John  Gilman  for 

£  10. 

1 

Nicholas  Gordon 

12.5 

5 

Bartholomew  Thing 

10.5 

6 

Jeremiah  Conner 

10.5 

7 

Richard  Smith 

13. 

8 

Daniel  Thing 

11. 

4 

Philip  Conner 

11. 

10 

Joseph  Thing 

10. 

3 

Nathaniel  Webster 

12. 

2 

William  Doran 

12. 

Agreeably  to  permission  given  by  the  town  a  high  steeple  was 
erected  upon  the  structure  at  the  west  end  thereof,  at  the  charge 
of  a  number  of  public-spirited  citizens,  who  afterwards,  on  April 
4,  1639,  transferred  the  ownership  thereof  to  the  town  on  the 
re-payment  of  the  cost,  about  one  hundred  and  fifteen  pounds. 
Peter  Gilman  and  Nathaniel  Gilman  were  the  building  committee 
of  the  steeple,  and  the  contributors  thereto  were 

John  Gilman  Daniel  Gilman 

Nicholas  Gilman  William  Lampson 

Nicholas  Gilman,  Jr.  Abraham  Folsom 

Peter  Coffin  Ephraim  Philbrick 

Samnel  Gilman  Jonathan  Gilman,  Jr. 

Francis  James  Jonathan  Folsom 

Dudley  James  Robert  Light 

Cartee  Gilman  Thomas  Webster 

Joseph  Thing  Moses  Swett 

Nicholas  Gordon  John  Lord 

John  Leavitt  Benjamin  Thing 

Theophilus  Smith  Daniel  Thing 

Thomas  Dean  Josiah  Gilman 

Nathaniel  Ladd  Henry  Marshall 


182  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

John  Folsom  Josiah  Ladd 

Oliver  Smith  Joshua  Oilman 

Benjamin  Folsom  Abner  Thurston 

Jeremiah  Calfe,  Jr.  Peter  Oilman 

Kinsley  James  Nathaniel  Oilman 
John  Baird 

This  steeple  stood  till  1775,  when  it  was  blown  down  in  a  heavy 
gale,  and  afterwai'ds  was  rebuilt  at  the  expense  of  the  town. 

On  the  twenty-eighth  of  September,  1731,  the  town  voted  to 
take  down  the  old  meeting-house,  which  had  been  left  standing 
while  the  new  one  was  built  beside  it,  as  soon  as  it  could  be  done 
with  convenience,  and  to  construct  a  court-house  with  the  materials 
thereof,  and  appointed  Theophilus  Smith,  Benjamin  Thing  and 
Jeremiah  Conner  a  committee  to  ' '  discourse  with  workmen  "  about 
taking  down  the  one  and  putting  up  the  other,  and  make  report. 

The  expected  occasion  for  a  court-house  proving  illusory,  the 
materials  taken  from  the  old  meeting-house  were  used  in  building 
a  town-house,  which  was  located  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street, 
near  the  site  of  the  present  Gorham  Hall. 

Those  who  are  conversant  with  the  construction  of  the  early 
churches  in  this  country,  are  aware  in  what  a  high  box  of  a  pulpit 
the  minister  used  to  be  perched.  It  must  have  been  hard  for  him 
to  establish  any  link  of  sympathy  with  hearers  so  far  away.  And 
it  seems  that  some  of  the  people  of  Exeter  realized  this  truth,  and 
wished  to  diminish  the  distance  between  people  and  pastor.  On 
March  26,  1733,  the  town  voted  that  "any  particular  person  or 
persons  that  are  desirous  of  having  the  pulpit  lowered,  have  libert}' 
to  lower  it  eighteen  inches,  provided  they  do  it  at  their  own 
charge,  and  leave  it  in  as  good  order  as  it  now  is." 

As  early  as  1735,  the  dwellers  in  the  western  part  of  the  town, 
who  were  now  becoming  somewhat  numerous,  and  were  at  an 
inconvenient  distance  from  the  meeting-house,  made  petition  to  the 
town  for  help  to  support  a  minister  among  themselves.  But  the 
town  declined  the  request,  probably  on  the  ground  that  the  inhabi- 
tants of  that  section  were  not  yet  strong  enough  to  set  up  a 
religious  establishment  of  their  own.  It  will  appear,  however,  that 
the  petitioners  were  persistent,  and  eventually  succeeded  in  creat- 
ing not  only  one,  but  two  new  parishes  in  that  territory. 

The  value  of  the  paper  currency  had  declined  in  1736  to  such  an 
extent  that,  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  March  of  that  year,  the  town 
voted   an  addition  of  fifty  pounds  a  year,   for  five  years  next 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  183 

ensuing,  to  Mr.  Odlin's  salary  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds, 
payable  in  good  public  bills  of  credit  on  either  of  the  provinces, 
"  he  acquitting  all  further  claims  for  the  time  past." 

In  1737  the  town  books  show  that  an  hour-glass  was  purchased, 
at  the  cost  of  four  shillings  and  six  pence.  This,  undoubtedly, 
was  to  be  placed  upon  the  pulpit,  not  as  an  admonition  of  brevity 
to  the  preacher,  but  simply  to  serve  the  purpose  of  a  clock. 

In  1737  forty-two  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  southwestern  part  of 
the  town  petitioned  the  selectmen  to  call  a  town  meeting,  to  con- 
sider their  request  to  be  set  off  as  a  separate  parish,  with  the 
followiug  bounds,  viz. :  "  Beginning  at  old  Pickpocket  upper  saw- 
mill, and  from  thence  running  south  to  Kingston  line,  thence  west 
and  by  north  by  Kingston  line  four  miles  ;  thence  north  four  miles  ; 
thence  easterly'  to  Newmarket,  southwest  corner  bounds  ;  and  so 
bounding  by  Newmarket  south  bounds  so  far  till  a  south  line  will 
strike  Pickpocket  mill,  and  then  to  run  from  Newmarket  line  south 
to  said  mill,  the  bound  first  mentioned."  These  bounds  are  very 
nearly  those  of  Brentwood,  as  it  was  afterwards  incorporated. 

But  the  town  was  not  yet  prepared  to  consent  to  the  separation, 
and  at  the  meeting  held  on  November  14,  1738,  voted  not  to  grant 
the  request  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  west  end  of  the  town  for  a 
new  parish. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting,  the  twenty-sixth  of  March,  1739, 
a  vote  was  passed  to  pay  the  cost  of  the  steeple  to  the  contributors 
to  the  erection  thereof,  as  has  already  been  stated,  and  the  select- 
men were  instructed  to  hang  the  bell  therein.  This  was  probably 
a  new  bell,  bought  by  individual  subscriptions.  For  two  or  three 
years  previously  the  subject  of  the  purchase  of  a  new  bell,  to  be 
placed  in  the  steeple  of  the  church,  had  been  pending,  and  the 
town  repeatedly  refused  to  make  the  order.  In  the  meanwhile, 
however,  the  people  were  not  without  the  means  to  call  them  to 
public  worship,  and  to  give  them  the  hour  for  retiring  at  night. 
The  bell  which  had  been  purchased  of  Peter  Coffin  in  1699  was 
still  in  the  steeple  of  the  old  church,  and,  after  the  demolition  of 
that  building,  was  hung  upon  the  town-house,  no  doubt,  as  the  old 
account  books  show  that  it  continued  to  be  regularly  rung.  Very 
likely  the  reason  for  the  refusal  to  procure  a  bell  for  the  new  meet- 
ing-house was,  that  the  steeple  was  not  the  town's  property  ;  for, 
as  soon  as  it  became  so,  all  objection  seems  to  have  ended.  It  is 
said  that  the  old  bell  of  1699  was  afterwards  removed  to  Pick- 
pocket, and  long  did  duty  upon  the  factory  there  in  calling  the 
operatives  to  their  work. 


184  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

EPPING    PARISH    SET    OFF. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  town,  on  the  thirtieth  of  March, 
1741,  the  petition  of  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  "living  at 
Tuckaway  or  thereabouts,"  praying  that  the  town  would  set  them 
off  as  a  parish  by  themselves,  was  presented,  and  by  vote  of  the 
town  was  denied. 

These  were  residents  of  the  northwestern  part  of  the  town  ;  and 
they  did  not  sit  down  contented  with  the  refusal,  but  within  the 
succeeding  year  presented  their  petition  to  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  province,  by  which,  after  a  notice  to  Exeter  and  a  hearing 
thereon,  it  was  granted,  February  3,  1742.  The  bounds  of  this 
parish,  which  received  the  name  of  Epping,  and  was  soon  after- 
wards, on  the  twenty-third  day  of  the  same  month,  incorporated  as 
a  town  under  the  same  designation,  were  as  follows,  viz.  : 
"  Beginning  at  Durham  line  at  the  northwest  corner  of  the  parish 
of  Newmarket,  and  from  thence  bounding  on  the  head  line  of  said 
Newmarket  to  the  southAvest  corner  of  the  same,  and  from  thence 
to  run  south  about  twenty-nine  degrees  west  parallel  with  the  head 
line  of  the  town  of  Exeter,  extending  to  half  the  breadth  of  the 
township  of  Exeter  from  Durham  line  aforesaid,  and  from  thence 
to  run  west  and  by  north  to  the  middle  of  the  head  line  of  the 
town  of  Exeter,  and  from  thence  to  bound  upon  Chester  and 
Nottingham  to  the  northwest  corner  of  Exeter,  and  from  thence 
bounding  east  and  by  south  on  Nottingham  and  Durham  to  the 
first  bounds." 

BRENTWOOD    PARISH    SET    OFF. 

A  petition  of  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  southwestern  part 
of  the  town,  that  they  should  be  set  off  as  a  separate  parish,  was 
presented  about  the  same  time,  and  the  town,  at  a  special  meeting, 
on  the  twenty-second  of  February,  1742,  voted  to  grant  the 
petition,  and  that  "the  petitioners  have  set  off  to  them  and 
their  successors  one-half  the  breadth  of  the  land  in  said  town 
lying  at  the  westerly  end  thereof,  for  a  parish,  bounded  as  follows, 
viz.  :  beginning  at  the  head  of  Newmarket  line,  thence  running  on 
a  south  line  to  Exeter  great  fresh  river,  and  then  one-half  mile 
by  said  river,  and  then  south  to  Kingston  line,  and  so  to  the  head 
of  the  township  ;  provided  that  the  abovesaid  parish  do  settle  an 
orthodox  minister  of  Christ,  and  maintain  and  support  the  same, 
and  all  other  parish  charges  within  the  same,  of  themselves." 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  185 

This  vote  received  the  sanction  of  the  General  Assembly,  and 
the  parish  of  Brentwood  was  incorporated  June  26,  1742. 

Thus  the  original  territory  of  the  town  was  now  divided  into 
four  distinct  parishes  :  the  northeastern  quarter  being  Newmarket ; 
the  northwestern,  Epping ;  the  southwestern,  Brentwood,  and  the 
southeastern  retaining  the  primary  designation  of  Exeter.  These 
were  of  neai'ly  equal  areas,  except  Brentwood,  which  was  somewhat 
larger  than  the  others.* 

Scarcely  had  these  difficulties  with  the  outlying  sections  of  the 
town  been  adjusted,  when  a  more  serious  trouble  arose  in  the  very 
heart  of  the  place.  This  was  about  the  time  of  the  great  religious 
awakening  in  New  England,  when  the  influence  of  White  field, 
preaching  a  new  gospel  of  enthusiasm,  was  felt  more  or  less  in  all 
the  churches.  His  followers  were  the  "  new  lights,"  but  the 
more  conservative  religionists  set  their  faces  like  a  flint  against  his 
methods.  The  members  of  the  First  parish  in  J^xeterwere  divided 
in  their  preferences.  Mr.  Odlin,  their  minister,  was  a  conser- 
vative, as  were  a  majority  of  his  congregation.  But  a  considerable 
minority  of  them  held  different  views.  Mr.  Odlin  was  getting  in 
years,  and  somewhat  infirm,  and  was  desirous  of  having  his  son 
Woodbridge  settled  with  him,  as  his  colleague.  Nearly  two-thirds 
of  his  parish  were  of  the  same  mind. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  town,  on  the  twenty-eighth  of 
March,  1743,  upon  an  article  in  the  warrant,  inserted  on  the  peti- 
tion of  seventy-one  of  the  inhabitants,  it  was  voted  that  Nicholas 
Oilman,  Thomas  Wilson,  Benjamin  Thing,  James  Leavitt,  Stephen 
Lyford,  James  Oilman  and  Nicholas  Ferryman  be  a  committee  to 
treat  and  agree  wath  the  Rev.  AYoodbridge  Odlin,  relating  to 
settling  as  a  colleague  with  his  father,  with  power  to  complete  an 
arrangement  with  him. 

From  this  vote  forty-four  of  the  inhabitants  entered  their  written 
dissent.  It  is  not  understood  that  there  was  any  personal  excep- 
tion to  the  younger  Mr.  Odlin  ;  the  sole  objection  was  to  his 
religious  views  and  position.  The  dissentients  seceded  from  the 
church  and  society,  and  established  a  religious  organization  of 
their  own,  the  history  of  which  will  be  found  under  its  appropriate 
head. 

REV.    vrOODBRIDGE   ODLIN,    COLLEAGUE. 

On  June  21,  1743,  the  committee  communicated  to  the  Rev. 
Woodbridge  Odlin  the  invitation  of  the  majority  of  the  town  to 


•The  town  of  Poplin  (now  called  Fremont)  was  set  off  from   Brentwood  June  22, 
1764;  and  the  town  of  South  Newmarket  from  Newmarket  June  27, 1849. 


186  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

settle  over  them  as  colleague  with  his  father,  upon  the  salary  of  £37 
10  s.,  lawful  money,  also  £50  yearly  for  the  first  four  years  of  his 
settlement ;  and  after  his  father's  death,  £65  annually,  and  the  use 
of  the  parsonage.  He  on  the  same  day  accepted  the  invitation  ; 
and  the  committee  at  once  made  an  agreement  with  the  Rev.  John 
Odlin  that  his  salary  should  be  reduced  to  £50  a  year,  with  the 
improvement  of  the  parsonage. 

The  liev.  Woodbridge  Odlin  was,  on  the  twenty-eighth  of 
September,  1743,  ordained  as  colleague,  accordingly. 

The  seceders  from  the  congregation  maintained  separate  religious 
worship  at  their  own  expense  ;  but  according  to  the  law  of  the  time, 
they  were  not  exonerated  thereby  from  paying  taxes  to  support 
the  Messrs.  Odlin.  They  made  repeated  attempts,  as  will  be  seen, 
by  petition  to  the  town  and  to  the  provincial  government,  to  be 
relieved  from  this  burden,  but  for  near  twelve  years  in  vain.  The 
bitter  feeling  that  had  been  aroused  by  their  opposition  to  the  party 
of  the  Messrs.  Odlin,  and  their  rather  unceremonious  departure, 
forbade  all  hopes  of  harmony  between  the  antagonistic  elements. 

On  the  twenty-sixth  of  March,   1744,  the  town  voted  not  to 

grant  the  petition  of  Samuel  Oilman  and  others,  to  be  exempted 

"from  paying  to  the  stated  ministry,  or  having  a  reasonable  sum 

allowed  them  annually  by  the  town  toward  the  support  of  a  gospel 

minister  among  themselves. 

Thereupon  the  petitioners  made  application  on  the  eighteenth  of 
July  following,  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  province,  for 
relief  from  taxation,  for  the  support  of  the  ministry  of  the  town, 
provided  they  should  maintain  a  minister  themselves.  On  July  24, 
the  town  appointed  Nicholas  Ferryman,  James  Oilman  and  Zebulon 
Giddiuge  a  committee  to  oppose  the  petition.  After  repeated 
written  statements  and  counter-statements  by  the  parties,  the 
General  Assembly  thought  proper  to  do  nothing  in  the  premises. 

It  was  during  this  year  that  the  Rev.  John  Odlin,  learning  that 
the  Rev.  George  Whitefield  was  coming  to  Exeter,  with  the  inten- 
tion of  preaching  there,  met  him  on  the  border  of  the  town,  and 
solemnly  adjured  him  not  to  trespass  upon  his  parochial  charge. 

On  the  ninth  of  April,  1748,  the  mischievous  effects  of  paper 
currency  were  again  shown,  by  the  necessity  of  an  addition  of  £200 
old  tenor  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Odlin's  salary  for  the  year,  and  on  the 
twenty-seventh  of  March,  1749,  by  a  further  increase  of  £100  old 
tenor,  for  that  year,  provided  he  would  give  an  acquittance  for  all 
arrearages. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  187 

The  seceding  society  had  again  preferred  their  petition  to  be 
exempted  from  taxation  for  religious  services,  by  which  they  did 
not  profit,  but  the  town  again  voted  to  "do  nothing  about  the 
petition  of  a  number  of  the  society  of  the  new  meeting-house." 

On  the  eighteenth  of  June,  1750,  the  town  voted  to  pay  the 
Rev.  John  Odliu  £600  old  tenor  for  the  year,  provided  he  would, 
at  the  end  thereof,  give  a  receipt  for  all  arrearages  ;  and  to  add 
to  the  Rev.  Woodbridge  Odlin's  salary  £350  old  tenor  for  the 
year,  on  like  conditions.  And  the  town  again  refused  "to  allow 
the  petition  of  those  in  the  new  meeting-house." 

On  the  thirtieth  of  March,  1752,  the  petition  of  "  those  worship- 
ping in  the  new  meeting-house"  was  again  brought  before  the 
town,  and  again  denied. 

The  Rev.  John  Odlin  died  November  20,  1754.  He  was  born 
in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  November  18,  1681  ;  graduated  from 
Harvard  College  in  1702,  and  ministered  to  the  people  of  Exeter 
for  forty-eight  years.  He  was  twice  married  ;  first  to  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth (Woodbridge)  Clark  October  21,  1706,  by  whom  he  had  five 
children,  and  who  died  December  6,  1729  ;  and  second,  to  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  (Leavitt)  Briscoe,  widow  of  Captain  Robert  Briscoe. 
Mr.  Odlin,  though  somewhat  unyielding  in  his  opinions,  was  a 
faithful  and  zealous  pastor,  and  he  lived  in  a  time  of  strong  relig- 
ious excitement  and  di'vision.  He  chose  the  conservative  rather 
than  the  progressive  side,  and  was  supported  by  the  majority  of 
his  people.  But  it  must  have  been  a  bitter  trial  to  him  to  see  so 
lai'ge  a  portion  of  his  church  and  parish  alienated  from  him.  He 
was  persevering  and  conscientious,  however,  and  retained  the 
affection  and  respect  of  his  followers  to  the  last,  as  is  evidenced 
by  their  vote  on  the  twenty-first  of  November,  1754,  to  raise  £100 
new  tenor,  for  defraying  his  funeral  charges. 

He  is  represented  as  a  man  of  excellent  powers  of  mind.  He 
presided  over  the  convention  of  ministers  which  assembled  in 
1747,  and  was  made  chairman  of  one  of  its  most  important 
committees.  A  sermon  which  he  preached  in  1742  was*  printed 
by  the  agency  of  the  Rev.  Mather  Byles  of  Boston,  who  wrote  a 
preface  to  it  which  contained  this  commendatory  allusion  to  the 
author : 

It  is  with  no  small  pleasure  that  in  tliis  precarious  season  I  see 
sucli  a  harmony  among  the  ministers  of  superior  reputation  among 
us,  and  especially  that  our  living  fathers  in  the  ministry  are  so 
united,  Avho  saw  our  temple  so  much  in  its  first  glory. 


188  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

At  length,  the  coutuiual  efforts  of  the  members  of  the  new 
society  accomplished  their  purpose  of  independent  existence.  On 
the  eighth  of  April,  1755,  sixty-two  members  of  that  society  pre- 
sented their  petition  to  the  General  Assembly,  that  they  and  their 
associates  might  be  freed  from  paying  taxes  for  the  support  of 
the  ministry  in  the  old  meeting-house,  for  the  future,  and  be 
incorporated  as  a  parish.  The  town  appointed  Peter  Gilman  and 
Zebulon  Giddinge  agents  to  resist  the  petition.  Peter  Gilman  was 
a  leading  member  of  the  assembly,  and  also  the  principal  peti- 
tioner. It  would  appear,  therefore,  that  the  majority  of  the  town 
had  extraordinary  confidence  in  his  obedience,  in  expecting  him 
to  oppose  his  own  petition,  or  that  their  feelings  had  become  mol- 
lified towards  the  petitioners,  and  they  no  longer  expected  to 
compel  them  to  contribute  to  the  support  of  Mr.  Odlin.  At  all 
events,  the  petition  was  successful,  and  the  petitioners  were,  on 
the  ninth  day  of  September,  1755,  incorporated  as  the  Second 
parish  in  Exeter  ;  and  for  the  future,  any  new  comer  in  the  town, 
or  any  person  arriving  at  full  age,  was  to  "have  the  liberty  of 
three  months  to  determine  to  which  parish  such  person  will 
belong." 

Thereafter,  the  warrants  for  the  annual  meetings  of  the  sup- 
porters of  the  First  church  in  Exeter  were  for  many  years  addressed 
to  "  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  exclusive  of  all  the  parishes  ;" 
meaning  all  the  inhabitants  who  were  not  included  in  Newmarket, 
Epping,  Brentwood  and  the  Second  parish  in  Exeter. 

On  the  twenty-ninth  of  March,  17G2,  at  a  meeting  of  the 
society  so  warned,  it  was  voted  that  a  new  bell  be  purchased,  of 
eight  hundred  pounds  weight ;  and  on  the  thirteenth  of  December, 
following,  that  "the  meeting-house  be  repaired,  the  repairs  to  be 
new  glazing  with  sash  glass,  shingling,  and  clapboarding  on  the 
fore  side  and  east  end,  and  that  it  be  painted  according  to  custom  ;* 
and  that  the  bell  be  for  the  town's  use."  On  the  twentieth  of 
March,  1764,  it  was  voted  "  to  use  the  part  of  the  money  divided 
to  this  parish  by  the  town  from  the  sale  of  wharf  lots,  to  pay  for 
the  bell." 

The  succeeding  years  were  a  transition  period  from  the  most 
inflated  paper  currency  to  hard  money.  In  April,  1765,  Mr. 
Odlin's  salary  received  an  addition  of  £700  old  tenor ;  in  April, 


*  The  custom  at  that  time  was  to  paint  only  the  doors  and  window-frames,  and 
the  ttnish  around  them.  It  is  doubtful  if  there  was  then  a  house  in  the  town  which 
was  completely  painted. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  189 

17G6,  an  addition  of  £400  old  tenor;  and  in  1767  his  entire 
salary  was  fixed  at  £100  lawful  money.  Old  tenor  had  become  a 
thing  of  the  past,  and  a  specie  basis  had  been  reached. 

Mr.  Odlin  continued  to  minister  to  his  people  through  the 
troublous  period  which  preceded  the  Revolution,  and  was  a  warm 
supporter  of  the  rights  of  his  countrymen.  The  pulpit  at  that  day 
was  a  chief  advocate  of  American  liberty,  and  in  both  the  religious 
societies  of  Exeter  its  utterances  were  of  no  uncertain  sound. 
Mr.  Odlin  died  the  tenth  of  March,  1776.  His  parish  manifested 
their  regard  for  his  memoi-y  by  the  payment  of  the  expenses  of 
his  funeral  and  a  gift  of  twenty-five  pounds  to  his  widow. 

He  was  born  April  28,  1718,  and  graduated  from  Harvard  Col- 
lege at  the  age  of  twenty.  He  married,  October  23,  1755,  Abigail, 
the  widow  of  the  Rev.  Job  Strong  of  Portsmouth,  and  the 
daughter  of  Colonel  Peter  Oilman  of  Exeter,  by  whom  he  had 
eight  children. 

He  is  described  as  a  very  pious  man ;  his  preaching  was  practi- 
cal ;  his  manners  were  plain  and  modest.  There  was  an  unaffected 
simplicity  in  all  he  said  or  did.  He  has  also  been  termed  a 
"  perfect  gentleman,"  no  doubt  rather  in  reference  to  his  qualities 
of  character  than  to  his  external  appearance  or  manners. 

In  July  following  the  decease  of  Mr.  Odlin,  the  society  gave  a 
call  to  the  Rev.  Isaac  Mansfield  to  become  their  pastor,  Avho  was 
accordingly  ordained  over  them  October  9,  1776. 

In  the  year  1778,  Mr.  John  Rice,  a  member  of  the  society,  died, 
giving  to  the  parish,  by  his  will,  the  house  on  Centre  street,  which 
is  now  the  parsonage,  and  certain  lands  on  the  little  river,  "to  be 
appropriated  to  the  support  of  a  minister  so  long  as  the  parish 
shall  continue,  and  constantly  support  a  regular  learned  minister 
or  ministers,"  but  in  case  of  failure  thereof,  to  be  appropriated 
for  the  benefit  of  a  grammar  school  in  Exeter  forever.  The  devise 
was  to  take  effect  upon  the  decease  of  his  wife.  She  died  five 
years  afterward,  and  by  her  will  gave  certain  house  lots  and  a 
wharf  to  the  parish,  on  the  same  conditions  specified  in  the  will  of 
her  husband. 

After  Mr.  Mansfield  had  been  in  Exeter  about  ten  years,  there 
was  a  disposition  manifested  by  both  parishes  to  reunite.  Reso- 
lutions were  adopted  by  each,  expressing  such  a  desire.  But  it 
was  found  that  they  could  not  come  together  under  the  ministry 
of  Mr.  Mansfield,  who  had,  by  some  imprudent  speeches  and 
actions,  lost,  to  some  extent,  the  attachment  of  his  people.     An 


190  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

arrangement  was  therefore  made  between  him  and  his  society  the 
following  year,  that  if  a  majority  of  the  parish  were  in  favor  of  his 
dismissal,  he  would  request  it  at  the  hands  of  a  council.  That 
course  was  taken,  and  his  connection  with  the  society  was  dissolved 
September  18,  1787. 

Mr.  Manslield  was  born  in  Marblehead,  Massachusetts,  in  the 
year  1750,  and  graduated  from  Harvard  College  in  1767.  He  had 
served  as  a  chaplain  in  the  continental  army  about  Boston,  before 
he  came  to  Exeter.  He  remained  in  the  town  awhile,  after  his 
dismissal,  and  taught  a  school.  Afterwards,  he  returned  to  his 
native  place,  where  he  became  a  magistrate.  He  died  in  Boston, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years. 

After  Mr.  Mansfield  surrendered  the  pastoral  charge,  the  two 
societies,  for  two  years  and  more,  united  in  supporting  public 
worship,  and  in  17.S8,  jointly  invited  the  Rev.  David  Tappan  of 
Newbury,  Massachusetts,  to  settle  over  them.  It  happened,  un- 
fortunately, that  the  call  was  not  unanimous  and  on  that  account 
was  not  accepted.  The  two  societies  did  not  agree  in  another 
choice,  and  the  first  society,  in  1790,  invited  the  Rev.  William  F. 
Rowland  to  the  pastoral  office,  and  he  was  ordained  over  them  the 
second  of  June  in  that  year.  Eight  years  afterwards,  a  new 
church  building  was  erected,  which  is  still  in  use  by  the  society, 
though  its  interior  was  altered  and  modernized  in  1838.  The  ex- 
terior was  fortunately  unchanged.  Its  style  and  proportions  have 
been  much  admired,  and  it  is  undoubtedly  a  fine  specimen  of  the 
architecture  of  the  period.  Ebenezer  Clifford  of  Exeter  is  under- 
stood to  have  designed  it. 

For  thirty-eight  years  Mr.  Rowland  continued  to  minister  to  the 
people,  during  which  time  he  witnessed  the  substantial  extinction 
of  the  church  of  the  other  society,  and  the  growth  of  a  new  church 
rising  from  its  ashes  ;  and  a  very  considerable  increase  in  the 
population  and  wealth  of  the  town.  He  was  dismissed  at  his  own 
request  December  o,  1828,  and  continued  to  live  in  P^xeter  until 
his  death,  June  10,  1843. 

Mr.  Rowland  was  born  in  Plainfield,  Connecticut,  May  26, 1761. 
He  was  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College  in  the  class  of  1784. 
He  was  twice  married  ;  first,  to  Sally,  daughter  of  Colonel  Eli- 
phalet  Ladd  of  Portsmouth,  July  30,  1793  ;  and  second,  to  Ann, 
daughter  of  Colonel  Eliphalet  Giddinge  of  Exeter,  August  29, 
1802.  He  left  one  sou  and  two  daughters,  who  all  died  unmarried. 
Mr.  Rowland  was  honored  in  a  way  that  no  other  New  Hampshire 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  191 

clergyman  has  been,  —  he  was  twice  appointed  to  deliver  eleetiou 
sermons,  in  179(5  and  in  1809,  both  of  wliich  were  published. 

His  successor  in  the  pastorate  was  the  Rev.  John  Smith,  in- 
stalled March  12,  1829,  and  dismissed  at  his  oWn  request  February 
14,  1838.  He  was  a  native  of  Weatherslield,  Connecticut,  and  a 
graduate  of  Yale  College  in  1821. 

Shortly  after  Mr.  Smith  was  settled,  the  need  of  a  vestry  was 
urgently  felt,  for  evening  religious  meetings  and  the  like,  and, 
with  the  concurrence  of  the  parish,  a  few  gentlemen,  Dr.  William 
Ferry,  Captain  Nathaniel  Gilman,  Jr.  and  others,  took  upon  them- 
selves the  immediate  expense  of  erecting  such  a  building  on  the 
northern  part  of  the  parsonage  laud,  on  Centre  street.  It  was  of 
two  stories,  the  upper  of  which  was  used  for  singing  schools  and 
other  purposes  not  necessarily  religious.  This  building  subse- 
quently became  the  property  of  the  parish,  and  in  the  year  1843, 
after  the  construction  of  a  vestry  in  the  meeting-house  rendered  it 
no  longer  necessary,  was  sold  to  a  number  of  gentlemen  for  the 
purpose  of  a  Female  Academy  ;  and  later,  when  that  use  had  termi- 
nated, was  altered  into  a  dwelling  house.  It  is  now  occupied  as 
such  by  Mrs.  Joseph  W.  Gale. 

The  Rev.  William  Williams  was  the  next  minister  of  the  society, 
installed  May  31,  1838.  The  first  year  of  his  stay  was  signalized 
by  extensive  alterations  made  in  the  interior  of  the  church  build- 
ing. Up  to  that  time  the  entire  space  within  the  walls  was  in- 
cluded in  the  audience  room  ;  the  high  pulpit,  surmounted  by  a 
sounding-board,*  was  on  the  north  wall,  and  galleries  ran  around 
the  other  three  sides.  A  great  part  of  the  pews  were  of  the  old 
square  pattern,  with  seats  facing  in  all  directions. 

The  changes  in  the  building  consisted  in  flooring  over  the  lower 
story,  and  finishing  rooms  in  it  for  a  vestry,  lecture  room,  etc., 
and  in  adapting  the  upper  story  for  an  auditorium.  Of  course, 
the  old  galleries  were  removed,  and  a  smaller  one  erected  for  the 
choir  ;  a  pulpit  of  modern  and  moderate  diniensious  was  placed 
at  the  west  side,  the  pews  were  altered  into  "slips,"  and  the  walls 
were  frescoed.  Excepting  that  the  change  involved  the  ascent  of 
a  flight  of  stairs,  it  was  an  undoubted  improvement. 

Mr.  Williams  was  dismissed  October  1,  1842,  by  reason  of  the 
failure  of  his  health  and  some  difficulties  that  arose.     He  after- 


*  The  ladies  of  the  society,  unwilling  that  so  interesting  a  relic  of  the  old  times 
should  go  to  destruction,  have  caused  the  sounding-board  to  be  rehabilitated  and 
suspended  in  the  lower  hall  of  the  church. 


192  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

wards  entered  the  medical  profession.  He  was  a  graduate  of 
Yale  College  in  the  class  of  1816. 

The  society  next  chose  for  their  minister  the  Rev.  Joy  H, 
Fairchild,  who  was  installed  September  20,  1843,  and  resigned 
July  30,  1844.  A  charge  of  iucoutiuenee  at  the  place  of  his 
former  settlement  preferred  against  him,  gave  rise  to  protracted 
controversies  that  forbade  all  hope  of  his  future  usefulness  in 
Exeter.  He  was  a  native  of  Guilford,  Connecticut,  and  a  gradu- 
ate of  Yale  College  in  1813. 

The  Rev.  Roswell  D.  Hitchcock  was  the  next  regular  occupant 
of  the  pulpit.  He  was  ordained  November  19,  1845,  and  dis- 
missed July  7,  1852.  He  was  a  native  of  East  Machias,  Maine, 
born  August  15,  1817,  and  an  alumnus  of  Amherst  College  of 
the  class  of  1836.  While  settled  in  Exeter,  he  spent  one  year  in 
Germany,  in  the  universities  of  Halle  and  Berlin.  After  leaving 
Exeter  he  was  a  professor  in  Bowdoin  College  for  three  years,  and 
then  was  appointed  to  a  like  position  in  the  Union  Theological 
Seminary,  New  York.  Of  this  institution  he  was  afterwards  made 
president,  and  held  the  office  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  June  17, 
1887. 

He  was  succeeded  in  Exeter  by  the  Rev.  AYilliam  D.  Hitchcock, 
who  was  installed  October  5,  1853,  and  began  his  ministrations 
with  every  prospect  of  permanence  and  usefulness,  but  his  career 
was  cut  short  in  a  single  year  by  his  death  November  23,  1854. 

More  than  a  year  and  a  half  expired  before  the  pulpit  was  again 
permanently  filled.  The  Rev.  Nathaniel  Lasell  was  installed  June 
19,  1856,  and  asked  his  dismission,  after  three  years  of  service, 
June  12,  1859.  He  was  subsequently  engaged  in  the  profession 
of  teaching. 

The  Rev.  Elias  Nason  was  the  next  incumbent,  installed  Novem- 
ber 22,  1860,  and  dismissed  May  30,  1865.  He  was  a  native  of 
Billerica,  Massachusetts,  and  a  graduate  of  Brown  University. 
He  had  been  a  teacher  and  an  editor  before  he  was  ordained,  and 
through  life  held  the  pen  of  a  ready  writer,  on  literary  and  histor- 
ical subjects.  He  published  several  works  of  history  and  biogra- 
phy, and  delivered  numerous  lectures.  He  died  in  Billerica, 
Massachusetts,  June  17,  1887,  the  same  day  as  his  predecessor  in 
the  Exeter  ministry,  the  Rev.  Dr.  R.  D.  Hitchcock. 

The  next  on  the  list  of  pastors  was  the  Rev.  John  O.  Barrows, 
a  graduate  of  Amherst  College  in  1860,  who  was  installed  Decem- 
ber 5,  1866,  and  received  his  dismission  October  6,  1869,  which 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  193 

he  had  requested  in  order  that  he  might  enter  upon  mission  work 
in  Asia. 

The  Rev.  Swift  Bj'ington,  the  present  minister  of  tlie  society 
and  the  sixteenth  in  order,  was  installed  June  2,  1871.  He  is  a 
graduate  of  Yale  College  in  the  class  of  1847,  and  a  native  of 
Bristol,  Connecticut. 


la 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  SECOND  PAEISH.     OTHER  RELIGIOUS  SOCIETIES. 

The  circumstances  under  which  the  secession  from  the  original 
parish  took  place,  in  the  year  1743,  have  been  related.  The 
seceders,  who  numbered  about  one-third  of  the  tax-payers,  and 
comprised  some  of  the  principal  and  wealthiest  citizens,  set  up 
separate  religious  services,  and  proceeded  without  loss  of  time  to 
erect  a  house  of  worship  and  organize  a  church. 

Their  meeting-house  was  finished  in  1744,  on  land  given  them 
by  Colonel  Peter  Gilman  and  Samuel  Gilman,  situated  on  the  north- 
erly side  of  what  is  now  Front  street,  between  the  houses  of  Dr. 
Josiah  Gilman  and  John  Dean,  on  the  lot  now  owned  by  Colonel  W. 
N.  Dow.  It  was  of  two  stories  and  of  good  dimensions,  standing 
parallel  with  the  street,  with  a  steeple  in  which  a  bell  was  hung, 
on  the  western  end.  The  pulpit  was  in  the  side  farthest  from  the 
street ;  a  gallery  ran  round  the  other  three  sides,  and  the  main 
entrance  was  opposite  the  pulpit. 

The  attempts  made  from  time  to  time  by  the  worshippers  in  the 
new  meeting-house  to  obtain  exemption  from  the  payment  of  min- 
ister's rates  for  the  support  of  the  old  parish  have  already  been 
detailed.  In  these  days  of  wider  religious  tolerance  we  may  think 
that  the  adherents  of  the  Messrs.  Odlin  should  have  been  more 
liberal,  and  ought  to  have  exonerated  their  withdrawing  brethren 
from  the  forced  contribution  which  the  law  enabled  them  to  exact ; 
but  it  is  not  quite  safe  to  say  what  would  have  been  our  own 
conduct  if  we  had  lived  in  their  time,  and  had  felt  the  same  provo- 
cation which  they  did.  It  is  too  late  now  to  attempt  to  decide 
upon  the  merits  of  the  respective  parties. 

The  new  society  for  some  years  had  no  settled  pastor.  In  1746 
they  made  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  engage  the  services  of  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Buel ;  and  in  1747  they  invited  Mr.  John  Phillips, 
one  of  their  own  number,  and  afterwards  the  founder  of  the 
Phillips  Exeter  Academy,  to  assume  the  pastoral  office,  but  he 

194 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  195 

modcstl}^  declined,  upon  the  ground  of  his  incapacity,  pai'tly  by 
reason  of  the  delicacy  of  his  lungs,  to  perform  all  the  duties  of 
the  position.  The}^  were  more  successful  with  the  Rev.  Daniel 
Rogers,  who  preached  for  them  early  after  their  separation,  and 
again  in  the  latter  part  of  1747,  and  pleased  them  so  well  that  he 
remained  with  them  during  the  rest  of  his  life.  They  gave  him  a 
formal  call,  and  on  the  thirty-first  of  August,  1748,  he  was,  by 
consent  of  a  council  of  churches,  installed  over  the  society  as  their 
minister.  This  was  not  done,  however,  without  a  remonstrance 
from  the  old  church,  backed  by  the  opinion  of  six  ministers  from 
neighboring  towns,  that  the  proceeding  was  irregular. 

The  interest  felt  by  the  members  of  the  new  society  in  its 
welfare  may  be  inferred  from  the  disposal  which  one  of  their  num- 
ber, Nicholas  Gilman,  Jr.,  made  of  his  property.  At  his  death 
in  1746,  he  devised  to  his  brother  Peter  Gilman,  Samuel  Gilman 
and  Daniel  Thing,  his  dwelling  house,  barn,  orchard,  and  about 
twenty-two  acres  of  land,  to  be  improved  by  them  for  and  towards 
the  support  of  the  minister  of  the  church  or  for  any  other  pious 
use.  The  house  was  pleasantly  situated  by  the  side  of  the  river 
near  the  great  bridge,  just  at  the  entrance  of  the  present  Franklin 
street,  and  facing  towards  Water  street.  It  was  occupied  as  the 
parsonage  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rogers  during  his  life;  and  in  1786 
after  his  death,  the  trustees  were  incorporated  by  act  of  the  Legis- 
lature, and  let  the  property  for  various  terras  until  the  year  1826, 
when  they  disposed  of  it  by  leases  for  the  period  of  nine  hundred 
and  ninety-nine  years.  The  income  of  the  proceeds  has  been 
employed  towards  the  support  of  the  minister  of  the  society,  in 
repairs  upon  the  meeting-house,  and  in  other  "  pious  uses,"  such 
as  the  distribution  of  Testaments,  the  support  of  young  men 
designed  for  the  ministry  and  the  like. 

In  July,  1755,  while  the  last  petition  for  the  incorporation  of 
the  new  parish  was  pending  in  the  Provincial  Assembly,  the  two 
churches  mutually  agreed  upon  an  ecclesiastical  council,  to  which 
were  referred  the  differences  between  them,  in  order  to  a  reconcil- 
iation, though  apparently  without  any  expectation  of  effecting  a 
reunion.  The  council  censured  the  course  of  the  separatists  in 
certain  particulars,  but  advised  the  old  church  to  receive  them  into 
fellowship  again,  whenever  they  should  accept  the  report  and 
manifest  their  readiness  to  practise  agreeably  thereto.  This  the 
new  church  voted  to  do,  but  the  old  church  required  some  further 
acknowledgment,  which  the  former  refused  to  make.     After  the 


196  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

incorporation  of  the  new  parish,  however,  on  the  ninth  of  Septem- 
ber, 1755,  there  was  no  collision  between  the  two  societies,  and 
for  many  years  no  fellowship,  bnt  each  went  its  way,  in  peace. 

Mr.  Kogers's  connection  with  the  Second  parish  terminated  only 
with  his  life.  It  extended  over  the  stormy  political  period  of  the 
American  Revolution,  but  the  relations  between  him  and  his 
people  were  always  pacific.  He  died  in  Exeter  in  1785,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-eight.  He  was  born  in  Ipswich,  Massachusetts,  August 
8,  1707,  graduated  from  Harvard  College  in  1725,  and  was  tutor 
there  from  1732  to  1741.  He  was  married  November  3,  1748,  to 
Anne,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Foxcroft  of  Boston,  on  which 
occasion  his  church  presented  him  with  the  sum  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty  pounds.  From  middle  life,  when  he  came  to  Exeter,  to 
his  death  at  an  advanced  age,  he  labored  assiduously  for  the 
welfare  of  his  people,  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  church  and 
congregation.  For  more  than  half  a  century  he  kept  in  interleaved 
almanacs  a  brief  record  of  his  daily  life  and  employments,  which 
show  him  to  have  been  an  amialjle,  faithful  and  devoted  religious 
teacher.  He  was  a  warm  friend  and  admirer  of  the  Rev.  George 
Whitefield  to  whom  he  attributed  his  own  conversion,  and  had 
that  eloquent  divine  twice  to  preach  to  his  Exeter  charge,  first  on 
the  twenty-sixth  of  October,  1754,  and  again  on  the  twenty-ninth 
of  September,  1770,  when  Whitefield  delivered  his  last  discourse 
the  day  before  his  death. 

In  token  of  their  esteem  for  then-  late  pastor,  his  parishioners 
voted  to  bear  the  expense  of  his  funeral.  His  body  lies  in  the  old 
burying-ground  on  Front  street,  west  of  the  railroad,  and  upon 
the  massy  tablet  above  it  is  the  following  inscription : 

Here  lie  the  remains  of 
the  Reverend  Daniel  Rogers, 
Pastor  of  a  church  gathered  in  this  place  1748, 
who  died  December  9ti»  1785  aged  78  years. 
He  had  been  many  years  a  Tutor  in  Harvard  College, 

was  a  faithful  pious  minister  of  Jesus  Clu-ist, 
and  a  worthy  son  of  the  Reverend  Jolui  Rogers, 

pastor  of  the  first  church  in  IpsAvich, 
who  died  December  28tii  11 45  in  his  80ti»  year; 
who  was  a  son  of  John  Rogers  of  the  same  place 
Physician  and  Preaclier  of  God's  Word, 

And  President  of  Harvard  College, 
who  died  July  2"^  1684  aged  o4  years; 
who  was  eldest  son  of  the  Rev<i  Nathaniel  Rogers, 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  197 

who  came  over  from  England  in  1636,  settled  at  Ipswich 

colleague  pastor  with  the  Rev"^'  Nathaniel  Ward, 

and  died  July  2^'  16o5  aged  57  years; 

who  was  son  of  the  Reverend  John  Rogers 

a  famous  minister  of  God's  M'ord  at  Dedham,  England, 

who  died  October  IS*''  1639  aged  67  years ; 

who  was  a  grandson  of  John  Rogers  of  London 

Prebendary  of  St.  Paul's,  Vicar  of  St.  Sepulchre's 

and  Reader  of  Divinity, 
who  was  burned  at  Smithfield  February  14,  1555, 
first  martyr  in  Queen  Mary's  reign.* 

Thou  martyred  saint  and  all  ye  holy  train 
O  be  your  honor'd  Names  ne'er  read  in  vain. 
May  each  descendant  catch  your  hallow'd  fire 
And  all  your  virtues  all  their  breasts  inspire. 
Prophets  like  you  in  long  succession  rise 
Burning  and  shining,  faithful  firm  and  wise, 
And  millions  be  their  crown  beyond  the  skies. 

For  nearly  seven  years  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Rogers  the  new 
parish  was  destitute  of  a  settled  minister.  During  that  time  there 
was  a  strong  feeling  in  favor  of  a  permanent  reunion  of  the  two 
parishes.  In  1786  resolutions  were  passed  by  both  expressing 
their  desire  for  a  restoration  of  their  former  relations,  and  in  the 
latter  part  of  1787  when  both  were  without  pastors,  they  appar- 
ently united  in  hiring  a  temporary  supply  until  the  next  annual 
meeting.  On  March  29,  1788,  the  members  of  the  new  church 
partook  of  the  communion  with  those  of  the  old,  at  the  invitation 
of  Deacon  Samuel  Brooks  of  the  latter,  and  during  that  and  the 
succeeding  year  both  parishes  joined  in  attendance  upon  public 
worship,  which  was  maintained  at  their  joint  charge.  In  1788 
both  societies  united  in  a  call  to  the  Rev.  David  Tappau  of  New- 
bury, Massachusetts,  to  settle  over  them,  but  because  the  call  was 
not  unanimous,  he  declined  it.  Attempts  were  made  to  agree  upon 
another  candidate,  but  without  success. 

In  1790  the  new  parish  invited  the  Rev.  Samuel  Austin  of  New 
Haven,  Connecticut,  to  their  pulpit  for  two  months,  and  ou  the 
twelfth  of  July  in  the  same  year,  gave  him  a  unanimous  call  to  a 
permanent  settlement,  at  an  annual  salary  of  one  hundred  jDounds. 
Mr.  Austin  did  not  accept,  and  on  September  24,  1792,  the  parish 


*The  claim  that  this  family  was  descended  from  the  Smithfield  martyr  has  of  late 
years  been  disallowed,  as  based  upon  a  mistaken  belief. 


198  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

voted  to  concur  with  the  church  iu  giving  a  call  to  the  Eev.  Joseph 
Brown,  who  accordingly  was  installed  over  them  on  the  succeeding 
twentieth  of  November.  After  a  service  of  five  years  he  was  dis- 
missed at  his  own  request,  the  twenty-eighth  of  August,  1797, 
the  parish  making  him  a  gift  of  fifty  dollars  upon  his  departure. 
Mr.  Brown  was  a  native  of  Chester,  in  England,  and  was  educated 
at  the  seminary  of  the  pious  Lady  Huntingdon,  whose  chaplain 
was  the  Rev.  George  Whitefield.  His  ministration  in  Exeter  was 
quite  successful,  and  he  was  afterwards  settled  at  Deer  Isle,  in 
Maine,  and  died  there  in  1804. 

After  the  removal  of  Mr.  Brown,  the  society  not  being  readily 
disposed  to  provide  themselves  with  a  successor,  its  numbers  grad- 
ually began  to  decline.  Religious  services,  however,  were  kept  up 
with  more  or  less  frequency,  and  the  organization  of  the  parish 
was  regularly  preserved.  Every  year  a  certain  sum  was  voted  to 
sustain  public  worship,  and  various  clergymen  were  temporarily 
employed  to  conduct  the  Sunday  services.  Thus  matters  went  on 
until  about  the  year  1812,  the  church  having  dwindled  until  it 
became  practically  extinct,  though  the  parish  received  accessions 
from  time  to  time. 

In  1811  the  Rev.  Hosea  Hildreth  came  to  Exeter  as  an  instruc- 
tor in  the  Academy,  and  was  employed  to  fill  the  pulpit  of  the 
society.  This  he  continued  to  do  most  of  the  time  for  about  five 
years,  and  until  the  society  was  provided  with  a  settled  pastor. 
On  the  twenty-fourth  of  December,  1812,  the  church  was  re-or- 
ganized, with  a  creed  drawn  up  by  Mr.  Hildreth,  which  would 
admit  those  who  questioned  the  doctrine  of  the  trinity,  of  whom 
there  were  several  in  the  society. 

On  December  2,  1816,  the  parish  gave  a  unanimous  call  to 
the  Rev.  Isaac  Hurd  to  become  their  minister  at  a  salary  of  six 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  and  he  was  installed  over  them  Septem- 
ber 11,  1817.  At  the  same  tune  he  was  appointed  theological 
instructor  in  the  Academy. 

On  the  thirty-first  of  March,  1823,  the  society  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  report  a  plan  for  a  new  meeting-house,  to  replace  the  old 
one  which  had  been  in  use  nearly  eighty  years,  and  on  the  eigh- 
teenth of  May  following,  Nathaniel  Gilman,  Joseph  Tilton,  Jere- 
miah Dow,  Jotham  Lawrence  and  Peter  Chadwick  were  chosen  to 
superintend  the  erection  thereof.  It  was  placed  on  land  furnished 
by  the  trustees  of  the  Academy  for  the  purpose,  and  the  master 
builder  was  Nathaniel  Conner.     It  was  completed  in  season  for 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  199 

the  next  annual  meeting  of  the  parish  in  March,  1824,  to  be  held 
therein,  and  has  well  answered  the  needs  of  the  parish  to  the 
present  time,  with  an  addition  to  its  length  of  about  fifteen  feet, 
which  was  made  in  1863, 

After  a  harmonious  and  successful  ministry  of  nearly  thirty 
years  Mr.  Hurd  proposed  to  the  society  to  settle  a  colleague  with 
him,  generously  relinquishing  all  claim  to  pecuniary  compensation 
thereafter.  To  this  proposal  the  society,  assuring  theu'  pastor  of 
their  undiminished  affection  and  regard,  assented,  and  in  April, 

1846,  called  tlie  Rev.  Robert  S.  Hitchcock  of  Randolph,  Massa- 
chusetts, to  the  associate  pastorate,  but  by  reason  of  the  state  of 
his  health  he  declined  the  invitation.  The  Rev.  Samuel  D.  Dexter 
was  subsequently  invited,  and,  giving  a  favorable  response,  was 
ordained  as  colleague  pastor  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hurd  December  2, 

1847.  His  ministry  was  cut  short,  however,  by  his  death  April 
20,  1857.  He  was  a  native  of  Boston,  and  a  graduate  of  Harvard 
College.  During  his  residence  in  Exeter  his  personal  and  religious 
character  was  such  as  to  gain  him  a  strong  hold  upon  the  people, 
and  his  premature  decease,  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-four  years, 
closed  a  career  of  bright  promise. 

The  Rev.  Asa  Mann  was  installed  as  colleague,  in  the  place  of 
Mr.  Dexter,  November  19,  1851.  During  his  term  of  service, 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Hurd,  on  the  fourth  of  October,  1856,  at  a  ripe  old  age, 
beloved  and  honored  for  his  amiable  character,  his  Christian  vir- 
tues and  his  faithful  labors,  went  to  his  rest.  Mr.  Mann  contin- 
ued in  Exeter  less  than  a  year  afterwards,  being  dismissed  from 
his  charge  July  8,  1857.  He  was  a  native  of  Randolph,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  a  graduate  of  Amherst  College,  and  had  been  settled 
at  Hardwick,  Massachusetts,  before  he  came  to  Exeter. 

His  successor  in  the  pulpit  of  the  Second  parish,  the  Rev. 
Orpheus  T.  Lanphear,  was  installed  February  2,  1858,  and  after 
a  successful  service  of  six  years,  on  being  called  to  a  church  in 
New  Haven,  Connecticut,  was  dismissed  by  council  February  21, 
1864.  He  was  a  native  of  West  Fairlee,  Vermont,  and  a  graduate 
of  Middlebury  College,  and  had  previously  been  the  pastor  of  the 
High  street  church  in  Lowell,  Massachusetts. 

The  Rev.  John  W.  Chickering,  Jr.,  began  to  preach  for  the 
society  on  the  first  Sunday  of  July,  1865,  was  in\^ted  to  become 
their  permanent  minister,  and  was  installed  ^  the  fifth  of  the  suc- 
ceeding September.  He  remained  for  five  years,  and  was  dis- 
missed  July  18,  1870.     During  latter  part  of  his  pastorate  the 


200  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

society  purchased,  enlarged  and  remodelled  the  dwelling  house  on 
Court  street,  which  has  since  been  occupied  as  the  parsonage. 
Mr.  Chickering  left  Exeter  to  accept  a  professorship  in  the  Deaf 
Mute  College  in  Washington,  D.C.  He  was  a  native  of  Portland, 
Maine,  and  a  graduate  of  Bowdoin  College,  and  had  served  as 
pastor  of  the  church  in  Springfield,  Vermont,  prior  to  his  coming 
to  Exeter. 

The  eighth  and  present  pastor  of  this  societ3^  is  the  Rev.  George 
E.  Street,  who  was  installed  March  30,  1871..  He  is  a  native  of 
Cheshire,  Connecticut,  and  a  graduate  of  Yale  College,  and  was 
the  minister  of  the  First  church  in  Wiscasset,  Maine,  when  invited 
to  Exeter.  Since  his  installation,  the  society  have  provided  them- 
selves with  a  chapel  for  evening  meetings  and  the  like,  situated 
on  Elm  street. 

QUAKERS. 

About  the  middle  of  the  last  century  there  were  a  few  Quakers 
in  Exeter,  who  held  meetings  for  a  time  in  a  barn  which  stood  on 
the  southerly  side  of  what  is  now  Front  street,  just  opposite  the 
head  of  Centre  street.  Among  them  were  Samuel  and  John 
Dudley,  grandsons,  it  is  presumed,  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Dudley. 
The  Rev.  Daniel  Rogers's  diary  for  the  year  1753  shows  that  on 
the  twenty-fifth  of  January,  "the  Quakers,  Samuel  Dudley,  etc., 
came  into  our  meeting  and  spoke;"  that  on  March  7,  "the 
Friends  were  carried  to  court  this  week,"  and  on  March  10,  "  Lord's 
day,  John  Dudley  spake  after  the  first  singing,  A.M." 

The  Friends  who  were  carried  to  court  were  undoubtedly  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  Joseph  Norris,  and  Joanna,  Avife  of  James  Norris. 
Tlie  records  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  show  that  at  the 
March  term,  1753,  these  Wo  women  were  indicted  for  a  breach  of 
the  peace  and  violation  of  the  act  for  the  better  observance  of  the 
Lord's  day.  It  is  probable  that  their  offence  was  the  disturbance 
of  the  Sunday  service  in  one  of  the  meeting-houses.  They  were 
arraigned,  and  pleaded  not  guilty.  When  inquired  of  whether 
they  would  be  tried  by  the  court  or  the  jury  they  resolutely  refused 
to  answer,  probably  having  little  expectation  of  an  acquittal  by 
either. 

The  court,  upon  hearing  the  testimony  of  witnesses,  and  the 
answers  of  the  respondents  themselves,  found  them  both  guilty, 
and  they  were  ordered  to  pay  a  fine  of  five  shillings  each,  aud  to 
find  sureties  for  their  future  good  behavior. 


HISTOKY  OF  EXETER.  201 

The  fiue  and  costs  were  at  once  paid,  and  no  further  account  is 
found  of  Quakers  in  the  town. 


THE    BATTIST    SOCIETY. 

A  Baptist  church  was  organized  in  Exeter,  October  17,  1800, 
consisting  of  ten  members.  The  elders  and  brethren  forming  the 
council  on  the  occasion,  were  from  the  churches  in  Haverhill  and 
NcAv  Rowley  in  Massachusetts,  and  in  Newton  and  Brentwood  in 
New  Hampshire.  The  Rev.  Hezekiah  Smith,  D.D.,  was  president 
of  the  council,  and  the  Rev.  Shubael  Lovell,  clerk.  In  the  spring 
of  1801  a  society  was  formed,  in  connection  with  the  church,  by 
voluntary  subscription.  The  members  were  few  in  number  and  of 
means  somewhat  limited,  so  that  for  several  years  they  were  able 
to  have  preaching  but  a  third  or  a  half  of  the  time  ;  but  having 
those  in  their  own  church  whose  gifts  of  exhortation  were 
acceptaljle  to  the  congregation,  and  edifying  to  the  brethren, 
meetings  were  regularly  held  on  Sundays  when  no  minister  could 
be  procured  ;  a  practice  which  they  found  to  be  attended  with  the 
best  results.  Their  first  place  of  meeting  was  at  the  dwelling 
house  of  Harvey  Colcord,  and  afterwards  at  the  Centre  school- 
house.  In  the  year  1805,  they  built  and  dedicated  their  first 
meeting-house,  situated  on  Spring  street. 

In  1806  Mr.  Barnabas  Bates,  afterwards  distinguished  as  the 
advocate  of  cheap  postage  and  otherwise,  preached  for  the  society 
for  several  months.  In  the  spring  of  1801)  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  L. 
Boyd  became  their  preacher,  and  labored  with  them  for  two  years 
Avith  encouraging  results.  In  1814,  and  the  two  succeeding  years, 
the  Rev.  Charles  O.  Kimball  and  the  Rev.  James  McGregore  sup- 
plied their  pulpit  a  part  of  the  time.  In  the  winter  and  spring  of 
1817  the  services  were  conducted  by  students  from  the  theologi- 
cal school  at  Danvers,  Massachusetts,  then  under  the  care  of  the 
Rev.  Jeremiah  Chaplin.  To  one  of  those  students,  the  Rev.  James 
Coleman,  they  gave  an  invitation  to  become  their  pastor,  but,  having 
determined  to  devote  his  life  to  missionary  work,  he  declined. 

In  the  year  1817  a  Sunday-school  was  first  commenced  in  con- 
nection with  the  society,  which  has  ever  since  been  continued. 
The  first  teacher  was  Deacon  John  F.  Moses,  who,  for  half  a 
century,  with  little  interruption,  held  the  office  of  superintendent, 
and  was,  during  his  life,  one  of  the  principal  pillars  of  the  church 
and  society. 


202  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

The  society  was  incorporated  by  the  Legislature  of  the  State  in 
1818,  and  the  same  year  had  their  first  settled  minister,  the  Eev. 
Ferdinand  Ellis,  who  served  them  from  June,  1818,  to  September, 
1828.  After  the  close  of  his  pastoral  connection  he  continued  to 
reside  in  Exeter,  and  was,  for  a  number  of  years,  a  successful 
schoolteacher.  In  the  autumn  of  1828,  the  Rev.  John  Newton 
Brown  was  settled  over  the  society  and  remained  until  February, 
1833.  He  resumed  the  pastorate  again  in  1834,  and  retained  it 
until  he  was  dismissed  in  April,  1838.  It  was  during  this  period, 
in  the  years  1833  and  1834,  that  the  society  built  their  second 
meeting-house  on  Water  street,*  dedicated  November  19,  1834,  in 
which  they  held  public  worship  until  the  erection  of  their  present 
church  on  Front  street.  In  the  interim  between  the  two  settle- 
ments of  Mr.  Brown,  from  May  29,  1833,  to  February  16,  1834, 
the  Rev.  John  Cannan,  from  Yorkshire,  England,  ministered  to 
the  society.  After  Mr.  Brown's  final  departure,  it  was  moi-e  than 
two  years  before  another  minister  was  settled,  but  for  about  half 
that  period  the  Rev.  J.  G.  Naylor  regularly  supplied  the  pulpit. 

In  November,  1840,  the  church  gave  an  invitation  to  the  Rev. 
Noah  Hooper,  Jr.,  to  become  their  minister,  which  he  accepted, 
and  continued  with  them  from  December  1,  of  that  year,  until  July 
20,  1845.  For  nearly  three  years  after  this  the  church  was  with- 
out a  regular  pastor,  though  for  about  one-third  of  that  period  Mr. 
T.  H.  Archibald,  licentiate,  preached  to  them.  Their  next  settled 
minister  was  the  Rev.  Elijah  J.  Harris,  who  remained  from  the 
spring  of  1848  to  April  7,  1850.  Then  the  Rev.  James  French 
became  their  minister  from  January,  1851,  to  January  1,  1853. 
After  his  dismission,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Russell  was  employed  as 
preacher  for  a  time.  The  Rev.  Franklin  Merriam  was  the  next 
settled  minister,  installed  in  September,  1854,  and  dismissed  in 
November,  1856.  His  successor  was  the  Rev.  James  J.  Peck, 
whose  pastorate  continued  from  February,  1857,  to  April,  1861. 

On  the  first  of  July,  1861,  the  Rev.  Noah  Hooper  was  solicited 
to  assume  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  society  a  second  tune,  to 
which  he  assented,  and  filled  the  position  until  the  autumn  of  1871, 
when,  at  his  repeated  request,  he  was  dismissed.  He  is  still 
residing  in  Exeter,  at  a  good  old  age,  in  the  enjoyment  of  much 
bodily  and  mental  vigor. 


*  The  Water  street  buildins  is  still  standing;  and  after  serving  the  purpose  of  a 
military  aruKjry  for  some  years,  has  now  been  transformed  into  au  oi)era  house. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  203 

The  Eev.  John  N.  Chase  was  next  imated  to  the  pastorate  of 
the  society,  and  was  received  into  that  connection  January  16, 
1882,  and  still  remains  therein,  having  already  served  a  longer 
time  than  any  of  his  predecessors. 

In  December,  1854,  twenty-two  members  withdrew  from  the 
Water  street  church,  and  formed  themselves  into  a  new  society. 
They  held  their  meetings  at  first  in  a  hall  on  Water  street,  until 
they  built  themselves  a  house  of  worship  on  Elm  street,  which 
was  dedicated  October  1,  1856.  Up  to  this  time  the  Kev.  J.  B. 
Lane  supplied  them  with  preaching.  Soon  after  their  removal  to 
their  new  house,  the  Rev.  T.  H.  Archibald  was  settled  over  them. 
His  term  of  ministerial  service  continued  about  two  years.  For 
some  time  after  his  dismissal  their  pulpit  was  supplied  by  students 
from  the  Theological  Institution  of  Newton,  Massachusetts,  and 
afterwards  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mayhew.  About  the  year  1862  the 
Rev.  Charles  Newhall  was  installed  as  the  pastor,  and  continued 
in  the  office  some  eight  years.  In  1871  the  two  Baptist  societies 
resolved  to  reunite  ;  the  Elm  street  organization  was  given  up,  and 
its  members  were  merged  again  in  the  Water  street  society.  Their 
meeting-house  on  Elm  street  afterwards  passed  into  the  possession 
of  the  Second  Congregational  parish,  and  is  used  by  them  as  a 
chapel. 

In  1874  the  reunited  Baptist  society  purchased  a  lot  on  the 
corner  of  Spring  and  Front  streets,  on  which,  in  that  and  the  fol- 
lowing year,  they  erected  their  present  handsome  brick  church. 
Notwithstanding  the  liberality  of  the  members  of  the  society,  it 
left  upon  them  a  heavy  load  of  debt,  Avhich,  however,  by  the 
strenuous,  continued  efforts  of  the  people,  supplementing  the  gen- 
erous gifts  of  Deacon  John  F.  Moses  and  his  son,  Henry  C. 
Moses,  P^sq.,  has  since  been  fully  discharged,  and  the  seats  of 
the  church  are  made  free. 

THE    UNIVERSALIST    SOCIETY. 

It  is  said  that  a  society  of  Universalists  was  formed  in  Exeter 
as  early  as  1810,  who  supported  public  worship  for  ten  years  or 
more,  when  their  organization  was  abandoned  and  the  members 
were  dispersed  among  the  other  religious  societies.  They  had  been 
incorporated  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature  in  the  year  1819.  Some 
years  later  their  interest  revived,  and  Snnday  services  were  main- 
tained in  the  old  court-house,  by  the  Rev.  Hosea  Ballon  and  other 
able  preachers  of  the  denomination.     On  the  twenty-sixth  of  May, 


204  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

1831,  several  of  the  leading  men  of  the  sect  formed  themselves 
anew  into  a  society,  erected  a  house  of  worship  on  the  east  side  of 
Centre  street,  and  soon  supplied  themselves  with  regular  ministers. 
Among  the  earliest  were  the  Eev.  Theophilus  K.  Taylor  and  the 
Rev.  AVilliam  C.  Hanscom,  the  latter  of  whom  appears  to  have 
preached  at  Newmarket  also.  The  Rev.  James  Shrigiey  of  Balti- 
more, Maryland,  was  installed  over  the  society  June  16,  1837, 
and  remained  three  years  or  more.  He  was  a  man  of  much  ability, 
and  became  subsequently  an  officer  of  the  Maryland  Historical 
Society.  The  Rev.  H.  P.  Stevens  was  the  next  minister,  but 
continued  only  a  year  or  two.  Then  the  Rev.  Henry  Jewell 
assumed  the  pastoral  charge,  and  under  his  administration  the 
congregation  increasecl  to  such  an  extent  as  to  warrant  the  erec- 
tion  of  a  new  and  larger  church.  Accordingly,  the  lot  on  the 
eastern  corner  of  Front  and  Centre  streets  was  purchased,  and 
upon  it  was  built  the  structure  which  has  served  as  a  place  of 
worship,  successive!}^  for  the  Universalists  and  the  Unitarians, 
and  now  is  occupied  by  the  Methodist  society.  It  was  dedicated 
December  18,  1845,  Mr  Jewell  preaching  the  discourse  on  the 
occasion. 

The  next  minister  settled  over  the  society  was  the  Rev.  R.  O. 
Williams.  He  was  a  practitioner  of  the  medical,  as  well  as  of 
the  clerical  profession.  His  stay  was  not  very  long,  and  his  suc- 
cessor is  believed  to  have  been  the  Rev.  John  L.  Stevens,  who 
ministered  to  the  society  with  ability  for  some  years.  He  has 
since  been  distinguished  as  the  editor  of  an  influential  political 
journal  in  the  State  of  JNIaine,  as  a  diplomatist  and  author.  After 
his  departure,  the  Rev.  Silas  S.  Fletcher  was  the  occupant  of  the 
pulpit,  and  the  last  of  the  preachers  of  Universalism  settled  in  the 
town.  In  1854  the  society  disposed  of  their  church  to  the  newly 
formed  Unitarian  society,  and  abandoned  their  separate  organiza- 
tion. Mr.  Fletcher  continued  to  reside  in  Exeter  until  his  death 
several  3'ears  later. 

THE    CHRISTIAN    SOCIETY. 

The  members  of  the  Christian  society  were  in  the  habit  of 
holding  meetings  for  religious  worship  in  private  houses,  for  some 
time  prior  to  the  year  1830.  They  aimed  to  free  themselves  from 
the  constraint  of  theological  dogmas,  and  so  professed  no  creed 
but  the  Bible.     Elder  Abner  Jones  is  said  to  have  been  the  founder 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  205 

of  the  sect,  and  at  one  time  lived  in  Exeter,  and  occasionally 
preached  to  the  people.  Their  first  permanent  minister  appears 
to  have  been  Polder  John  Flanders,  Avho  remained  five  or  six  years. 
In  the  meantime,  the  congregation  grew,  a  chnrch  was  formed, 
and  a  chapel  was  built  at  the  foot  of  Franklin  street.  Elder  Eli- 
jah Shaw  became  subsequently  the  minister  of  the  society,  aiKl 
published,  in  a  little  pamphlet,  a  sketch  of  the  doctrines  of  his 
people,  entitled  "Sentiments  of  the  Christians."  About  the  year 
1840  Elder  Edwin  Burnham  had  the  pastoral  charge,  and  this 
was  apparently  the  culminating  point  of  the  society.  The  chapel 
had  to  be  enlarged  to  accommodate  the  hearers.  But  soon  after 
this,  the  noted  William  Miller,  who  predicted  the  destruction  of 
the  world  in  1843,  preached  in  Exeter,  and  many  of  the  Christian 
Society  became  believers  in  his  theory,  and  deserted  their  former 
associates. 

This  succession  weakened  the  Christian  society,  but  it  still  went 
on  for  nearly  twenty  years  longer.  Elder  Simeon  Swett,  who  was 
the  compounder  of  several  medical  preparations  which  acquired 
popularity,  Elder  Julius  C.  Blodgett  and,  finally.  Elder  John  W. 
Tilton,  successively  ministered  to  the  society,  but  it  never  recov- 
ered fully  from  the  loss  of  members  which  it  sustained  in  1842, 
and  at  length,  toward  the  year  1860,  came  to  an  end.  Its  house 
was  closed,  and  its  records  and  papers  are  said  to  have  been 
destroyed. 

THE    METHODIST    SOCIETY. 

The  first  steps  towards  the  formation  of  a  Methodist  society 
were  taken  by  five  ladies  in  1830.  Upon  their  invitation,  the 
Rev.  D.  I.  Robinson,  then  stationed  in  Newmarket,  came  to 
Exeter  and  arranged  for  religious  meetings  to  be  held  on  every 
alternate  Sunday.  The  next  year  the  Rev.  Amos  H.  Worthing  of 
Newmarket,  continued  to  hold  occasional  services  in  Exeter  ;  and 
in  1832  Exeter  became  a  regular  station,  to  which  the  Rev.  Azel 
P.  Brigham  was  appointed  by  the  Conference.  The  meetings  of 
the  society  were  at  that  time  held  in  the  old  court-house,  and  the 
number  of  attendants  was  much  increased.  In  November,  of  the 
same  year,  John  Clement,  Samuel  Tilton  and  Moses  P.  Lowell 
organized  the  First  Episcopal  Methodist  Society  in  Exeter,  by  pub- 
lication in  a  newspaper,  according  to  law. 

In  1833  the  Rev.  A.  11.  Worthing  was  stationed  in  Exeter,  and 
in  1834  the  Rev.  Samuel  Hoyt,  the  society,  by  invitation,  occupy- 


206  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

ins;  the  old  Universalist  cliurcli  on  Centre  street.  In  the  latter 
year,  however,  they  erected  a  brick  church  of  their  own,  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river,  upon  Portsmouth  avenue.  The  dedicatory 
sermon  was  preached,  February  10,  1835,  by  the  Eev.  George 
Storrs.  In  1835  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Hatch  was  appointed  minister 
of  the  society ;  in  1836  the  Rev.  Alfred  Medcalf ,  on  account  of 
whose  illness  the  Rev.  O.  Hinds,  and  afterwards  the  Eev.  Jacob 
Sanborn  took  his  place.  Mr.  Sanborn  remained  for  the  succeed- 
ing three  years,  and  under  his  charge  the  church  was  highly 
prosperous. 

It  was  in  1836,  on  the  evening  of  the  tenth  of  August,  that  the 
town  was  disgraced  by  a  scene  of  public  disorder  at  the  meeting- 
house of  the  Methodist  society.  The  Rev.  George  Storrs,  a  noted 
advocate  of  the  abolition  of  slavery,  attempted  to  deliver  a  lecture 
there  on  that  subject.  A  crowd  of  pro-slavery  men,  idlers  and 
boys  gathered,  and  determined  that  he  should  not.  As  he  per- 
sisted in  his  attempt,  he  was  interrupted  by  hooting,  by  the  fling- 
ing of  stones  at  the  windows  and  blinds,  and  by  streams  of  water 
from  the  fire  engines  ;  so  that,  finding  it  impossible  to  go  on,  he 
at  length  desisted,  and  his  audience  dispersed.  No  serious  damage 
was  done  to  persons  or  property ;  the  worst  injury  was  to  the 
good  fame  of  the  town.  All  that  can  be  said  in  mitigation  of  the 
offeuce  is  that  it  was  not  an  unexampled  one  in  New  England  at 
that  time. 

The  Rev.  E.  D.  Trickey  was  the  pastor  in  1840  and  1841,  at 
which  time  the  church  numbered  about  one  hundred  and  eighty 
members.  In  1842  the  Rev.  D.  I.  Robinson  was  stationed  at 
Exeter.  The  divisions  on  the  slavery  question,  and  the  "Miller 
excitement,"  seriously  interfered  with  the  harmony  of  the  society, 
and  a  majority  of  the  members  with  their  pastor  seceded,  and  a 
Wesleyan  Methodist  church  was  organized.  This  was  never 
very  prosperous.  For  some  years  after  1842,  Exeter  was  united 
with  Amesbury,  Massachusetts,  and  had  no  separate  minister.  In 
1847  the  Rev.  Isaac  W.  Huntley  was  the  pastor,  and  in  the  two 
years  following,  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Peaslee. 

In  1858  the  Rev.  James  M.  Buckley,  then  just  from  college, 
supplied  the  pulpit.  He  was  earnest,  able  and  eloquent,  and  drew 
a  large  congregation.  He  has  become  distinguished  in  later  years, 
and  is  now  a  doctor  of  divinity  and  editor  of  the  New  York 
Christian  Advocate,  the  leading  Methodist  journal  of  the  country. 
The  next  year  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stokes  had  charge  of  the  society,  but 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  207 

the  interest  awakened  by  Mr.  Buckley  died  away  after  his  depart- 
ure, and  the  society  declined,  and  soon  came  to  a  full  stop. 

In  1861  and  1862  the  brick  meeting-house  was  occasionally 
opened,  but  it  was  not  till  1867  that  the  Methodists,  including 
some  new  comers,  re-organized  theu-  society.  In  that  year  the 
Rev.  C.  W.  Millen  supplied  them  with  preaching  for  a  few  weeks, 
holdino-  services  in  a  hall  on  Water  street.  After  he  left,  the 
Rev.  J.  D.  I'olsom  began  his  labors  with  them,  and  the  congrega- 
tion increased.  The  Rev.  H.  B.  Copp  succeeded  Mr.  Folsom  in 
1868,  and  remained  three  years.  During  his  stay  the  society  pur- 
chased from  the  Unitarian  society  the  church  on  the  corner  of 
Front  and  Centre  streets,  where  they  still  worship.  The  Rev.  S.  E. 
Quimby  was  the  next  pastor,  for  the  term  of  three  years.  The 
society  had  now  grown  in  strength  and  numbers.  In  1874  and 
1875  the  stationed  minister  was  the  Rev.  S.  C.  Farnham  ;  and  in 
the  three  following  years  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Haines.  The  church  and 
congregation  were  largely  increased  during  his  administration. 
The  Rev.  M.  Howard  was  the  next  minister,  for  the  years  1879 
and  1880  ;  and  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Walker  succeeded  him  in  1881  and 
part  of  1882  ;  and  the  Rev.  C.  H.  Hannaford  filled  out  the  latter 
year.  In  1883  the  Rev.  C.  J.  Fowler  was  the  pastor,  and  in  1884 
the  Rev.  John  W.  Adams  was  assigned  to  the  place. 

The  society  had  long  struggled  with  a  considerable  debt,  in- 
curred when  they  purchased  their  house  of  worship  in  1868,  and 
Mr.  Adams  resolved  to  make  a  determined  effort  to  pay  it  off. 
By  the  concurrent  action  of  his  church  and  society  he  was  enabled 
to  accomplish  the  desirable  result,  and  on  December  28,  1884, 
announced  it  to  his  society,  on  which  occasion  he  delivered  a 
discourse  on  the  Centenary  of  Methodism. 

In  1886  Mr.  Adams  was  transferred  to  another  scene  of  labor, 
and  the  Rev.  C.  N.  Nutter  succeeded  to  the  Exeter  charge. 

THE    ADVENT    SOCIETY. 

This  society  probably  took  its  rise  from  the  doctrine  of  the 
immediate  second  coming  of  Christ,  preached  by  William  jMiller 
in  the  year  1842.  It  was  chiefly  made  up  of  members  of  the 
Christian  and  the  Methodist  churches,  who  left  their  old  commun- 
ions in  the  full  faith  that  the  end  of  the  world  was  at  hand.  Of 
course  when  the  time  fixed  for  the  final  catastrophe  came  and  went 
without  the  expected  event,  the  faith  of  many  was  shaken,  but  a 


208  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

considerable  part  of  the  believers  decided  that  a  mistake  in  the 
time  Avas  no  reason  for  rejecting  any  other  tenet  of  their  religion, 
and  so  have  continued  their  regular  worship  in  their  chapel  on 
Clifford  street.  Their  views  as  to  doctrines  are  much  the  same  as 
those  which  were  held  by  the  "  Christians,"  but  of  course  the 
expected  second  advent  of  Christ  is  the  prominent  subject  of 
interest  with  them,  and  their  aim  is  to  be  constantly  ready  to 
welcome  it. 

/ 

THE    ROMAN    CATHOLIC    SOCIETY. 

The  Catholic  society  of  Exeter  was  organized  in  1853  by  the 
Rev.  John  McDonnell  of  Haverhill,  Massachusetts.  For  some 
years  it  was  small  in  numbers,  and  lacked  the  means  to  l^uild  a 
house  of  worship.  There  was  no  resident  priest,  and  services  were 
held  only  occasionally.  But  as  the  numbers  increased  a  regular 
pastor  was  found  necessarj^,  and  the  Rev.  J.  Ph.  Perrache  was 
appointed  in  July,  1859.  Meetings  were  held  in  the  building  on 
Centre  street  which  had  formerly  served  as  the  Universalist 
church.  Father  Perrache  remained  in  Exeter  something  less  than 
three  years,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Bernard  O'Hara, 
in  the  month  of  April,  1862. 

The  Rev.  Canon  Walsh  assumed  charge  of  the  society  in  Decem- 
ber, 1865,  and  retained  it  about  three  years  and  a  half,  iintil  the 
appointment  of  the  Rev.  M.  C.  O'Brien  in  June,  1869.  His  stay 
was  very  brief,  and  the  Rev.  Charles  Egan  followed  him  in 
November  of  the  same  year.  Father  Egan's  residence  was  longer 
than  that  of  either  of  his  predecessors,  and  he  did  not  give  place 
to  his  successor,  the  Rev.  Michael  Lucy,  until  December,  1875. 
The  next  incumbent  was  the  Rev.  John  Power,  who  was  placed 
in  charge  of  the  society  in  October,  1878,  and  was  succeeded  in 
January,  1883,  by  the  present  pastor,  the  Rev.  John  Canning. 

The  society  in  1868  erected  their  brick  church  in  Centre  street, 
and  purchased  the  house  adjoining,  on  the  corner  of  Water  street, 
for  the  residence  of  the  pastor. 

THE    UNITARIAN    SOCIETY. 

The  Unitarian  society  was  formed  in  June,  1854.  It  was  chiefly 
composed  of  members  of  the  Second  parish  who  entertained  Uni- 
tarian opinions,  and  were  not  satisfied  with  the  style  of  preaching 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  209 

there,  and  of  the  Universalists,  whose  society  had  decliued  in 
numbers  and  means.  The  neAV  organization  purchased  the  Uni- 
versalist  church  at  tlie  corner  of  Front  and  Centre  streets,  and 
there  maintained  their  worship  for  the  succeeding  fourteen  years. 
For  nearly  two  years  they  had  no  settled  minister,  but  were  tem- 
porarily supplied ;  though  a  considerable  part  of  that  time  the 
Rev.  Joseph  Angler,  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College  in  1829,  was 
their  preacher. 

On  the  twenty-fourth  of  April,  1856,  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Cole 
was  installed  as  their  pastor.  After  remaining  about  four  years 
he  asked  his  dismission,  but  was  prevailed  upon  at  the  request  of 
the  society  to  remain  for  a  year  or  two  longer,  until  they  could 
decide  upon  his  successor.  Mr.  Cole  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard 
College  of  the  class  of  1825,  and  after  he  left  Exeter  removed  to 
Newburyport,  Massachusetts,  where  he  died  in  1877. 

In  September,  18G2,  the  society  invited  the  Rev.  .John  C. 
Learned,  who  had  then  just  completed  his  course  of  study  in 
Divinity  School  at  Cambridge,  to  become  their  minister.  He 
accepted  the  invitation  and,  after  completing  a  tour  in  Europe, 
was  ordained  over  them  May  6,  1863.  He  retained  the  connection 
nearly  six  years  and  a  half,  when  it  was  dissolved  upon  his  appli- 
cation on  account  of  the  impaired  condition  of  his  health.  After 
quitting  Exeter  he  took  up  his  residence  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
where  he  still  remains.  During  his  pastorate  the  society  acquired 
the  strength  and  means  to  provide  themselves  with  a  new  place  of 
worship,  and  erected  their  present  church  on  the  corner  of  Maple 
and  Elm  streets. 

His  successor  was  the  Rev.  Edward  Crowninshield  (Harvard 
Divinity  School,  1870),  who  was  ordained  over  the  society  about 
the  first  of  August  of  tlie  same  year.  His  health  was  found  to  be 
insufficient  for  the  position,  and  he  resigned  it  after  a  single  year's 
labor. 

Another  year  had  nearl}^  expired  before  his  place  was  supplied 
by  the  Rev.  Benjamin  F.  McDaniel,  who  received  his  theological 
education  at  the  same  school,  in  the  class  of  1861).  His  pastorate 
extended  over  a  period  of  ten  years  and  a  half,  but  during  that 
time  he  was  twice  compelled  to  ask  for  temporary  leave  of 
absence,  to  recruit  his  healtli  by  foreign  travel.  At  length  he  was 
dismissed  by  his  own  desire,  and  after  a  short  settlement  in  Salem, 
Massachusetts,  he  removed  to  the  milder  climate  of  San  Diego, 
California.     It  was  while  Mr.  INIcDaniel  was  in  Exeter  that  the 

14 


21U  HISTOEY  OF  EXETER. 

society  built  upon  the  lot  adjoining  the  church  their  present  parson- 
age house. 

Mr.  McDauiel  was  followed  by  the  Rev.  John  E.  Mande,  a 
graduate  of  Harvard  College,  who  was  ordained  October  9,  1883. 
His  term  of  service  lasted  only  one  year,  when  he  fell  a  victim  to 
disease. 

The  Rev.  Alfred  C.  Nickerson,  a  graduate  from  the  Harvard 
Divinity  School  in  1871,  is  the  present  pastor,  and  assumed  the 
office  in  the  month  of  April,  1886. 

THE    EPISCOPAL    SOCIETY. 

The  Episcopal  society  in  Exeter  dates  from  the  year  1865.  It 
originated  with  students  of  the  Academy  who  had  been  brought 
up  in  that  church,  and  wished  to  enjoy  its  services  while  pursuing 
their  education.  The  Rev.  Dr.  (now  Bishop)  F.  D.  Huntington 
cordially  seconded  the  movement  and  conducted  the  first  service  in 
the  town  hall,  in  July,  1865.  In  September  following  the  parish 
of  Christ  Church  was  organized. 

The  next  month  the  Rev.  Dr.  George  F.  Cushman,  a  graduate 
of  Amherst  College  in  1840,  took  charge  of  the  parish,  and 
remained  six  months.  Services  were  at  first  held  in  the  town  hall, 
and  afterwards  in  the  building  on  Centre  street,  originally  used 
by  the  First  Congregational  society  as  a  vestry. 

The  Rev.  James  Haughton,  a  native  of  Boston,  and  a  graduate 
of  Harvard  College  in  the  class  of  1860,  succeeded  Dr.  Cushman, 
and  under  his  rectorship  the  present  church  on  Elliott  street  was 
built.  The  means  for  it,  $12,500,  were  raised  by  the  exertions  of 
the  indefatigable  treasurer  of  the  parish.  Miss  Caroline  E.  Harris, 
and  of  the  rector.  The  church  was  ready  for  occupation  at 
Christmas,  1867,  and  consecrated  September  30,  1868,  with  no 
debt,  and  with  free  sittings. 

After  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Haughton,  to  take  the  charge  of 
the  new  society  in  Hanover,  New  Hampshire,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Samuel  P.  Parker,  an  alumnus  of  Harvard  College,  succeeded  to 
the  rectorship.  He  remained  two  years,  during  which  the  society 
prospered  and  increased  in  strength.  For  some  time  after  his 
departure  there  was  no  settled  clergyman  over  the  parish,  but  in 
July,  1872,  the  Rev.  Henry  Ferguson,  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
and  a  graduate  of  Trinity  College,  Hartford,  assumed  the  charge. 
In    1875  he  obtained  a   year's   leave  of    absence,  and   travelled 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  211 

abroad.  During  his  absence  the  Rev.  J.  H.  George  had  the 
charge  of  the  parish.  Mr.  Ferguson  resumed  his  duties,  upon  his 
return,  and  remained  about  two  years  longer.  Afterwards  he  was 
for  a  time  rector  of  the  church  in  Claremont,  and  then  received  an 
appointment  to  the  professorship  of  history,  iu  his  alma  mater, 
which  he  still  holds. 

The  Rev.  George  B.  Morgan,  also  a  native  of  Connecticut  and 
an  alumnus  of  Trinity  College,  was  the  successor  of  Mr.  Fergu- 
son. His  ministry  extended  over  the  period  of  eight  years,  when 
he  resigned  it,  to  take  the  rectorship  of  a  church  in  New  Haven. 

The  present  rector  is  the  Rev.  Edward  Goodridge,  like  his  two 
immediate  predecessors,  born  in  Connecticut  and  educated  at 
Trinity  College.  He  began  his  labors  in  Exeter  February  26, 
1887.  He  had  previously  been  stationed  in  Geneva,  Switzerland 
in  charge  of  the  American  church  there. 


MILITARY 


CHAPTER  XI. 
THE  INDIAN  AND  FRENCH  WARS. 

Although  under  the  laws  of  Massachusetts  the  people  of  Exe- 
ter had  to  maiutaiii  a  watch-house  aud  some  show  of  an  orsauized 
militia,  yet  until  the  year  1675  the  place  had  never  been  made  the 
object  of  any  Indian  hostilities.  There  must  have  been  frequent 
intercourse  between  the  whites  and  the  aborigines,  but  their  rela- 
tions were  pacific  and  friendly.  Possibly  the  precautions  taken 
by  the  former  contributed  to  maintain  this  tranquillity. 

But  in  the  year  named  an  Indian  war  broke  out,  brief,  but  in 
some  sections  active  and  bloody.  Philip,  chief  sachem  of  the 
Wampanoags,  has  the  credit,  or  discredit,  of  being  the  instigator 
of  the  movement.  His  own  people  belonged  in  the  southern  part 
of  New  England,  but  he  had  the  power  and  address  to  enlist  some 
of  the  eastern  tribes  to  make  common  cause  with  him.  This  was 
the  less  difficult,  because  some  of  them  had  grievances  of  their 
own  to  revenge. 

Exeter  was  a  frontier  town,  and  necessarily  suffered  to  some 
extent  from  the  raids  of  the  barbarous  enemy.  In  the  month  of 
September,  1675,  a  party  of  savages  made  a  descent  upon  the  set- 
tlement of  Oyster  river,  adjoining  Exeter  on  the  north,  and 
burned  two  houses  and  killed  four  persons.  They  also  made 
captives  of  two  others,  one  of  them  "a  young  man  from  about 
Exeter"  according  to  the  historian,  Hubbard,  but  whose  name  is 
unknown.  By  the  aid  of  an  Indian  "  better  minded  than  the  rest " 
he  succeeded  in  giving  them  the  slip,  and  returned  to  the  garrison 
at  Salmon  Falls,  after  about  a  month's  absence. 

Four  of  the  same  party  of  Indians,  probably,  proceeded  to  Exe- 
ter, aud  made  a  prisoner  of  Charles  Rundlet,  an  inhabitant  of  the 
town.  He  was  left  in  the  custody  of  one  of  their  number,  named 
James,  whom  he  induced  to  connive  at  his  escape.  Rundlet  was 
accidentally  drowned  at  the  mouth  of  Exeter  river,  nearly  a  quarter 
of  a  century  later. 

215 


216  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

The  other  three  Indians,  whose  names  were  John  Sampson, 
Cromwell  and  John  Linde,  placed  themselves  in  ambnsh  in  the 
woods  near  the  road  leading  to  Hampton.  Soon  afterwards  John 
Kobinson,  a  l)lacksmith  who  had  removed  frbm  Haverhill,  Massa- 
chusetts, to  P^xeter  in  1G57,  made  his  appearance,  with  his  son, 
on  their  way  to  Hampton.  The  father,  according  to  tradition, 
was  carrying  a  warming-pan.  The  Indians  fired  from  their  lurk- 
ing place  upon  them,  and  shot  the  elder  Robinson  dead.*  The 
bullet  passed  through  his  body  from  back  to  front,  and  lodged  just 
under  the  skin.  The  son,  upon  hearing  the  report  of  the  guns, 
ran  into  a  swamp  where  the  Indians  pursued,  but  could  not  over- 
take him.  He  I'eachcd  Hampton  about  midnight  and  gave  infor- 
mation of  what  had  occurred. 

About  the  same  time  that  Robinson  was  shot,  another  Exeter 
man,  John  Folsom,  was  riding  on  horseback  along  the  same  road, 
driving  a  pair  of  oxen  before  him.  He  heard  the  report  of  the 
guns  which  gave  Robinson  his  death  wound,  and  presently  dis- 
covered the  three  Indians  creeping  on  their  bellies  towards  him. 
He  abandoned  his  oxen,  put  his  horse  to  speed  and  made  his 
escape,  though  it  is  said  that  one  of  the  savages  sent  an  ineffect- 
ual shot  after  him. 

In  October  following  the  occurrences  just  related,  the  Indians 
made  another  incursion  to  Exeter,  and  killed  one  man  near  Lam- 
prey river.  Several  of  them  were  seen  about  Exeter,  and  between 
Hampton  and  Exeter,  where  they  killed  one  or  two  men  in  the 
woods  as  they  were  travelling  homewards.  The  names  of  those 
slain  have  not  been  preserved.  These  outrages  naturally  terrified 
the  people  of  the  town  and  vicinit}^,  and  prevented  them  from 
attending  to  their  daily  business,  or  exposing  themselves  in  any 
way  to  the  rifle  and  the  scalping-knife  of  the  cruel  and  stealthy 
foe.  Fortunately  this  outbreak  of  hostilities  was  of  brief  duration, 
and  was  ended  in  1676  by  the  death  of  the  chief  fomenter  of  it, 
and  Exeter  experienced  no  further  molestation  at  this  time. 

KING  William's  w^ar. 

Nearly  fifteen  years  passed  away  before  the  Indians  again  took 
up  the  hatchet.  They  were  then  set  on  by  the  French  in  Canada, 
and  the  brunt  of  their  attacks  fell  upon  the  border  settlements  of 


*  There  seems  to  be  an  uncertainty  exactly  when  this  tragedy  occurred.    The 
record  of  the  town  gives  the  date  as  the  tweuty-flrst  of  October,  1675. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  217 

New  Hampshire  and  Maine.  A  terrible  massacre  was  committed 
upon  the  settlers  of  Coehecho  in  1689  ;  but  it  was  not  until  the 
succeeding  year  that  Exeter  was  invaded.  On  the  fourth  of  July, 
1690,  eight  or  nine  white  men  went  out  to  work  in  the  field  near 
Lamprey  river,  when  a  party  of  Indians  fell  upon  them  and  slew 
them  all,  and  departed,  carrying  with  them  a  lad  into  captivity. 
The  next  day  the  enemy  beset  Captain  Hilton's  garrison  in  Exe- 
ter. Lieutenant  Bancroft  being  then  stationed  in  the  town  with  a 
small  force,  at  the  distance  probably  of  three  or  four  miles, 
relieved  the  garrison,  at  the  loss,  however,  of  eight  or  nine  of  his 
party.  It  was  of  one  of  his  men,  Simon  Stone  *  by  name,  that  the 
wonderful  preservation  from  death,  after  numerous  and  seemingly 
mortal  wounds  received  on  this  occasion,  is  related  by  Cotton 
INIather,  in  his  Macfnalia. 

On  the  sixth  day  of  the  same  July,  a  severe  conflict  took  place 
between  two  scouting  companies  under  the  command  of  Captains 
Floyd  and  Wiswall,  and  a  large  body  of  savages  at  Wheelwright's 
pond  in  Lee,  in  which  thirteen  of  the  whites  were  killed.  The 
enemy  then  pursued  their  way  westward,  and  within  the  period  of 
one  single  week  added  at  least  fifteen  more  victims,  slain  between 
Lamprey  river  and  Amesbury,  Massachusetts,  to  those  already 
enumerated,  in  their  bloody  raid.  How  many  of  these  belonged 
in  Exeter  we  have  unfortunately  no  present  means  of  ascertaining. 

About  June  9,  of  the  next  3'^ear,  1691,  the  Indians  killed  two 
men  at  Exeter,  whose  names  are  unknown. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  succeeding  month  of  July,  an  expedi- 
tion was  sent  to  the  eastward  against  the  Indian  enemy,  under  the 
command  of  Captain  March  and  others,  and  landed  at  a  pface 
called  Maquoit,  near  Casco,  on  the  coast  of  Maine.  They  were 
attacked  by  great  numbers  of  the  enemy,  and  Nathaniel  Ladd,  an 
inhabitant  of  Exeter,  who  was  in  the  expedition,  received  a  mortal 
wound,  of  which  he  died  on  the  eleventh  of  August,  following. 

During  the  continuance  of  the  Indian  wars,  Exeter,  by  reason 
of  its  exposed  situation,  needed  to  be  garrisoned  a  large  part  of 
the  time,  not  only  for  the  protection  of  its  own  inhabitants,  but 
as  a  bulwark  against  assaults  upon  the  interior  settlements. 
Sometimes  the  militia  of  other  places  were  detailed  for  this  duty, 
but  most  of  the  time,  probably,  the  guard  was  composed  of  Exeter 
men.     The  records  of  their  service  are  not  now  to  be  found,  in 


♦Then  or  afterwards  of  Groton,  Massachusetts. 


218  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

most   cases,  but  a  few  have  fortunately  escaped  destruction,  to 
give  us  an  idea  of  the  trying  experiences  of  the  time. 

The  earliest  that  we  can  discover  bears  date  March  17,  1693, 
and  is  as  follows  : 

The  soldiers  under  my  command,  quartered  by  the  inhabitants 
of  Exeter  from  the  1  day  of  December,  1G'J2,  to  the  17  of  March, 
1692-3,  the  number  is  twenty  and  two,  and  two  quartered  at  Mr. 
Andrew  Wiggins,  one  of  them  since  the  arrival  of  their  majesty's 
gevernment  in  this  province,  to  the  17  IMarch,.  1692-3,  the  other 
quartered  fifteen  weeks  in  the  aforesaid  time. 

per  me,  Thomas  Thaxter,  Capt. 

The  above  is  a  true  account  of  the  soldiers  quartered  by  the 
inhabitants  of  Exeter. 

Jonathan  Thing,  Capt. 

In  the  year  1693  a  truce  was  "patched  up,"  as  Belknap  pithily 
expresses  it,  between  the  aborigines  and  the  English,  which  was 
violated  without  scruple  by  the  former  in  the  following  year.* 
But  Exeter  happily  escaped  any  further  attack  until  the  month  of 
July,  1695,  when  two  men  are  recorded  to  have  been  slain  there  by 
the  Indians.  Like  so  many  others  who  perished  in  the  same  man- 
ner, they  are  to  us  nameless. 

The  precept  du-ected  to  the  authorities  of  Exeter,  November  2, 
1695,  for  the  election  of  assemblymen,  contained  also  the  order 
following : 


'o 


You  are  required  to  give  notice  to  the  captain  of  your  town  that 
he  stands  upon  his  guard,  the  Indians  being  on  the  frontiers. 

William  Redfokd,  Dpt. 

Kinsley  Hall  was  the  captain  of  the  first  company  of  militia  in 
Exeter,  and  from  his  return  we  learn  that  he  lost  no  time  in  pro- 
viding for  the  emergency.  He  impressed  men  from  time  to  time 
through  the  autumn  and  winter,  and  until  April,  1696,  requiring 
of  each  instalment  about  a  month's  service,  as  follows  : 

John  Young,  Sr.,  Jacob  Smith,  Alexander  Gordon,  Francis 
Steel  and  Job  Judkius,  from  November  4  to  December  2,  1695. 

Thomas  Eollins,  John  Sinclair,  Joshua  Oilman,  I^dward  Masry 
(?)  and  John  Judkins,  from  November  14  to  December  12,  1695. 


*  By  the  mai=sacre  at  Oyster  river  on  July  18,  1794.  On  that  occasion  Exeter  was 
ordered  to  furni>h  twenty  men  to  range  the  woods  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  but  no 
record  of  their  service  is  to  be  found. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  219 

Edward  Dwyer,  Ebenezer  Folsom,  John  Ficket,  Jethro  Pearson 
aud  Strong  Home,  from  December  2  to  December  30,  16'J5. 

Samuel  Bean,  Jeremy  Conner,  Edward  Cloutman,  Samuel  Dol- 
loff  and  James  Randlet,  from  December  12,  1695,  to  January  9, 
1(396. 

John  Bean,  James  Bean,  Israel  Smith,  James  Leavitt  and 
Stephen  Gilman,  from  December  30.  1695,  to  January  20,  1696. 

Samuel  Piper,  Nicholas  Smith,  Nicholas  Gilman,  Philip  Spenlow 
aud  Moses  Rollins,  from  January  9  to  February  6,  1696. 

William  Graves,  Clement  ISIoody,  Jonathan  Smith  aud  John 
Leavitt,  from  January  27  to  February  24,  1696. 

Francis  Lyf ord,  Biley  Dudley,  Alexander  Magoon  and  Nathaniel 
Ladd,  from  P>bruary  6  to  March  5,  1696. 

Nicholas  Gordon,  James  Young,  Mark  Stacy  and  William 
Powell,  from  February  24  to  March  23,  1696. 

Peter  Folsom,  from  March  5  to  April  2,  1696. 

The  whole  account  of  the  soldier's  wages  from  November  5, 
1695,  to  April  2,  1696,  was  £52,  16  s. 

In  addition  to  the  above  Exeter  men  whose  tour  of  duty  was  in 
their  own  town,  another,  Jonathan  Thing,  served  in  the  garrison 
at  Oyster  river,  one  month  from  April  2,  1696  ;  and  sixteen  others 
were  summoned  to  Oyster  river  for  two  days. 

It  appears,  also,  that  P^xeter  furnished  the  garrison  in  the  town 
through  the  spring  and  summer,  and  until  November  9,  1696,  as 
follows  : 

Job   Judkius,     Alexander    Gordon,    D Meserve,    Charles 

Rundlet,  Armstrong  Home,  Ebenezer  Folsom,  Francis  Steel, 
John  Gordon,  Nathan  Taylor  and  Richard  Dolloff,  from  April 
13  to  August  3,  1696. 

David  Lawrence,  Thomas  Wilson,  John  Gilman,  Israel  Young, 
Richard  Morgan,  Jonathan  Clark,  Ephraim  Folsom,  Samuel 
Dudley,  Job  Judkins  and  David  Robinson,  from  August  3  to 
August  31,  1696. 

Charles  Glidden,  George  Pearson,  William  Taylor,  William 
Jones,  George  Gorly  (?),  Nicholas  Norris,  Alexander  Gordon, 
Sr.,  Jonathan  Wadleigh,   Daniel   Bean    and   Roger  Kelly,  from  \^ 

August  31  to  September  28,  1696.  "^^■4>i/uwLt 

James    Gilman,  Philip    Huutson,  Philip   Dudy,   Jacob    Smith,  ^^^ 

Moses  Kimming,  Theophilus  Smith,  Jeremiah  Gilman,  Joseph 
Rollins,  Benjamin  Jones  aud  Moses  Norris,  from  September  28  to 
October  26,  1696. 

Cornelius  Leary,  John  Beau,  Sr.,  James  Gordon,  Caleb  C-Jilman, 
Jeremiah  Beau,  Abraham  Folsom,  William  Scammon,  Richard 
Morgan,  Sr.,  Benjamin  Taylor  and  Jonathan  Robinson,  from 
Octo^ber  26  to  November  9,  1696. 

Moses  Leavitt  also  served  in  the  garrison  at  Exeter  from  July 
28  to  September  22,  1696. 


220  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

No  lists  of  the  Exeter  soldiers  in  "King  William's  War," 
except  those  above  given,  have  been  found ;  but  these  are  enough 
to  show  that  the  daily  life  of  the  people  was  never  wholly  free 
from  apprehension,  and  that  there  was  no  craven  spirit  in  the 
Exeter  men  of  two  centuries  ago. 

A    FORTUNATE    ESCAPE. 

A  remarkable  coincidence,  which  resulted  in  frustrating  a  plan 
formed  by  a  party  of  savages  for  the  destruction  of  the  town, 
occurred  June  9,  1697.  On  that  day  a  party  of  women  and 
children  went  into  the  woods,  against  advice  and  without  a  guard, 
for  the  purpose  of  picking  strawberries.  To  frighten  them,  so  as 
to  render  them  more  cautious  iu  future,  some  one,  without  the 
least  suspicion  that  an  enemy  was  near,  fired  an  alarm,  upon  which 
a  great  part  of  the  men  hurried  together,  with  arms  in  their  hands . 
In  point  of  fact,  a  party  of  Indians  were  at  that  very  time  lying 
in  ambush  in  another  part  of  the  town,*  with  the  intention  of 
making  an  assault  the  next  morning,  but  hearing  the  alarm,  they 
supposed  they  were  discovered,  and  hurriedly  decamped,  killing, 
on  their  way,  John  Young,  wounding  his  son,  a  child,  and  taking 
captive  a  thu"d,  Luke  Wells,  by  name.  Young  was  one  of  those 
who  had  been  impressed  into  service  in  the  Exeter  garrison  in  the 
winter  of  1695-6. 

Peace  was  concluded  in  Europe  between  the  English  and  Fi-ench 
by  the  treaty  of  Ryswick  in  1697.  King  William's  war  ended  the 
next  year,  and  for  a  brief  period  no  hostile  tribes  committed  dep- 
redations on  the  northern  provinces  in  America.  But  in  less  than 
four  years  there  were  such  indications  that  the  Indians  were  again 
about  to  take  the  war  path,  that  the  governor  and  council  of  New 
Hampshire,  in  February,  1702,  ordered  Captain  Peter  Coffin  of 
Exeter,  and  the  captains  of  Oyster  river  and  Dover,  to  keep 
scouts  of  two  men  daily  from  Kingston  to  Salmon  Falls  river  till 
further  orders  ;  and  in  March,  following,  ordered  Captain  Coffin 
to  send  two  men  to  scout  from  Exeter  to  Pickpocket  mill,  thence 
to  Kingston,  and  so  back  to  Exeter ;  also  to  send  two  men  to 
Lamprey  river,  to  the  house  of  John  Smith  and  so  back  to  Exeter. 

Queen  Anne  came  to  the  English  throne  in  1702,  and  her  name 
has  been  applied  to  the  Indian  war  which  broke  out  afresh  in 
America  the  next  year. 


*  The  place  of  the  ambush  was  what  is  now  called  Fort  Rock,  in  a  pasture  in  the 
rear  of  the  present  house  of  Mr.  Edward  Swasey. 


'i<*>^ 


</ 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  221 

QUEEN    ANNe's    WAR. 

In  the  winter  of  1703-4  the  government  of  New  Hampshire  re- 
solved to  send  out  a  scouting  expedition  against  the  savage  euemy. 
Captain  John  Gihnan,  Jr.,  a  son  of  Councillor  John  Gilraan,  and 
Captain  Winthrop  Hilton,  were  the  commanding  officers  of  the 
two  companies  in  Exeter,  and  were  encouraged  to  raise  volunteers 
for  the  expedition.  The  former  reported,  in  a  week,  that  he  had 
enlisted  twenty  men,  and  expected  twelve  more,  exclusive  of 
officers  ;  and  that  several  gentlemen  of  Exeter  had  subscribed  for 
the  purchase  of  thirty  pairs  of  snow-shoes,  for  their  use,  which 
were  in  preparation.  Captain  Hilton,  a  grandson  of  Edward 
Hilton  and  a  nephew  of  Governor  Joseph  Dudley,  reported  that 
he  had  only  received  his  notice  the  night  before,  and  was  of  the 
opinion  that  if  one  company  were  to  go  from  Exeter,  it  would 
weaken  the  place  too  much  to  take  more  men  away  from  it. 
Captain  Hilton,  who  was  soon  to  become  a  successful  and  distin- 
guished commander,  was  commissioned  major,  and  took  the  com- 
mand of  the  three  companies  composing  this  scouting  party. 

They  ranged  the  woods  on  snow-shoes  in  quest  of  the  savages, 
but  did  not  succeed  in  meeting  any.  It  was  "an  honorable  ser- 
vice," the  council  declared,  and  ordered  a  handsome  gratuity  to 
each  of  the  commanding  officers. 

In  March,  1704,  a  force  was  raised  to  range  the  shores  of 
Maine,  and  was  put"  under  the  command  of  that  veteran  Indian 
fighter.  Colonel  Benjamin  Church.  Hilton  was  appointed  his 
major,  and  rendered  excellent  ser\dce.  He  was  allowed  to  have 
the  militia  of  the  New  Hampshire  towns  mustered,  from  which  to 
procure  volunteers  for  the  enterprise,  and  took  with  him,  according 
to  Belknap,  "a  body  of  men;"  but,  unfortunately,  no  means  of 
knowledge  exist  how  many  were  contributed  by  Exeter.  The 
expedition  occupied  the  summer  of  1704. 

On  the  twenty-sixth  of  April,  in  the  same  year,  a  party  of 
Indians,  who  had  committed  depredations  in  Oyster  river  the  day 
before,  killed  Edward  Taylor  near  Lamprey  river,  and  afterwards 
took  his  wife  Rebecca  and  their  son,  and  carried  them  into  captiv- 
ity. Mrs.  Taylor  was  subsequently  restored  to  her  friends,  but 
had  been  harshly  treated.  Her  master,  who  was  called  Captain 
Sampson,  was  on  one  occasion  so  enraged  with  her  (without  pro- 
vocation) that  he  determined  to  put  an  end  to  her  life.  He  first 
attempted  to.  hang  her  to  the  limb  of  a  tree  by  his  girdle,  Imt  it 
gave  way  under  the  weight  of   her   body.     The  disappointment 


222  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

angered  him  to  such  a  degree,  that  he  resolved,  if  a  second  attempt 
failed,  he  would  beat  her  brains  out  with  his  hatchet.  Fortunately, 
before  he  could  put  his  resolve  into  execution,  Bomaseen,  an 
Indian  of  authority,  made  his  appearance  aud  arrested  the  fatal 
blow. 

The  histories  inform  us  in  disappointing  general  terms,  that 
about  August  10,  1704,  the  savages  did  much  mischief  at  Ames- 
bury,  Haverhill  and  Exeter.  But  no  particulars  are  preserved, 
save  that  John  Young  was  slain  at  Exeter  while  travelling  between 
the  town  and  Pickpocket.  He  was  probably  the  son  of  the  person 
of  the  same  name  who  fell  beneath  the  weapons  of  the  savage  foe 
seven  years  before. 

COLONEL  Hilton's  expeditions. 

In  the  winter  of  1704-5,  the  indefatigable  Colonel  Winthrop 
Hilton  with  two  hundred  and  seventy  men,  among  whom  were 
twenty  friendly  Indians,  was  sent  to  Norridgewock  on  snow-shoes, 
to  harry  the  enemy.  They  found  the  village  deserted,  but  burnt 
the  wigwams  and  a  chapel,  erected  by  the  French. 

The  summer  of  1705  was  spent  in  negotiations  for  exchanges  of 
prisoners  ;  but  in  July,  1706,  notice  was  received  that  a  large  body 
of  French  Mohawks  were  on  their  way  towards  Pascataqua.  Colo- 
nel Hilton  with  sixty-four  men  marched  from  Exeter  to  intercept 
them,  but  was  obliged  to  return  for  want  of  provisions,  without 
meeting  them.  The  enemy  committed  depredations  at  Dunstable, 
Amesbury  and  Kingston,  after  which  a  party  of  them  numbering 
about  twenty  remained  lurking  around  the  house  of  Colonel  Hilton 
in  Exeter,  with  the  intent  of  destroying  that  brave  and  energetic 
oflicer.  On  the  twenty-third  of  July  they  observed  ten  men  go  out 
to  the  field  in  the  morning,  with  their  scythes,  to  mow.  The 
Indians  crept  cautiously  between  them  and  the  weapons  which 
they  had  laid  aside,  and  then  fell  upon  them.  They  killed  four, 
Richard  Mattoon,  his  son  Hubertus,  Robert  Barber  and  Samuel 
Pease,  and  three  others  they  carried  captive,  Edward  Hall,  Samuel 
Mighill  and  a  mulatto.  Three  only  escaped,  Joseph  Hall,  John 
Taylor,  who  was  sorely  wounded  but  recoveTed,  and  another. 
Edward  Hall  (a  nephew  of  Colonel  Hilton)  and  Mighill  were 
carried  to  Canada,  where  Hall  obtained  so  much  favor  from  the 
French  and  Indians  by  building  them  a  saw-mill  that  they  allowed 
him  and  Mighill  to  go  out  into  the  woods  to  hunt,  and  sometimes 
unattended.     The  two  prisoners  took  advantage  of  one  of  these 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  223 

opportunities  and  made  their  escape.  They  were  for  three  weeks 
traversing  the  forests  on  foot,  with  nothing  to  subsist  on  except 
lily  roots  and  the  rind  of  trees,  till  Mighill  was  so  exhausted  that 
he  lay  down  to  die.  Hall  made  all  possible  provisions  for  his 
comfort  and  left  him,  to  seek  the  nearest  English  settlement.  He 
soon  reached  Deerfield,  Massachusetts,  and  immediately  sent  a 
party  to  Mighill's  relief.  They  found  him  alive,  and  brought  him 
to  the  fort  where  he  recovered  his  strength,  and  returned  with  his 
companion  to  their  home.  The  names  of  Hall  and  Mighill  are 
found  upon  the  tax  list  of  Exeter  in  1714. 

In  the  winter  of  1706-7,  Colonel  Hilton,  in  command  of  two 
hundred  and  twenty  men,  made  another  excursion  to  the  eastward, 
which  resulted  in  the  destruction  of  above  twenty  of  the  enemy. 

In  the  month  of  July,  1707,  two  brothers,  Stephen  and  Jacob 
Gilman,  as  they  were  riding  from  Exeter  to  Kingston,  were 
ambushed  and  fired  upon  by  a  party  of  seven  Indians.  Stephen 
had  his  horse  shot  under  him,  and  was  in  danger  of  being  scalped 
before  he  could  get  clear.  The  other  received  several  shot 
through  his  clothes,  one  of  which  grazed  his  body.  His  horse  also 
was  wounded,  yet  he  defended  himself  on  foot,  and  succeeded  in 
getting  into  the  garrison.  One  escaped  to  Kingston,  the  other  to 
Exeter. 

Later  in  the  year,  on  the  thirteenth  of  September,  one  man  was 
killed  near  the  meeting-house  in  Exeter,  by  the  Indians  ;  and  two 
days  afterward,  another,  John  Dolloff,  in  the  woods. 

In  the  winter  of  1708-9,  Colonel  Hilton  made  along  and  tedious 
march  with  one  hundred  and  seventy  men  to  Pequawket  in  search 
of  the  enemy,  but  without  success. 

In  1700,  on  the  sixth  of  May,  William  Moody,  Samuel  Stevens 
and  two  sons  of  Jeremiah  Gilman,  Jeremiah  and  Andrew,  were 
surprised  by  the  Indians  at  Pickpocket  mill  in  Exeter,  and  carried 
away  prisoners.  Moody  was  taken  to  Canada,  and  while  his 
captors  were  traversing  French  river  with  huu  in  canoes,  a  few 
days  afterward,  they  were  attacked  by  a  party  of  English  under 
Captain  ^Yright  of  Northampton,  Massachusetts.  Several  of  the 
Indians  were  killed,  and  Moody  was  left  alone  with  one  savage 
in  a  canoe.  The  English  encouraged  him  to  despatch  the  Indian, 
which  he  attempted,  but  in  the  struggle  the  canoe  was  overset, 
and  Moody  swam  to  the  shore.  Two  or  three  of  the  English  ran 
down  to  the  bank  and  helped  him  to  land,  but  a  number  of  the 
enemy  attacked  them,  and  Moody  unhappily  yielded  himself  again 


224  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

to  the  savages,  who  afterwards  put  him  to  cruel  torture,  roasted 
hhn  alive  at  the  stake,  and  devoured  his  flesh. 

The  brothers  Gilmau,  after  their  capture,  were  separated  from 
each  other.  Andrew  was  told  that  Jeremiah  was  killed  and  eaten  ; 
and  as  the  latter  never  returned  to  Exeter  the  story  was  for  a 
long  time  believed  to  be  true.  But  it  is  since  alleged  that  after  a 
tedious  captivity  Jeremiah  escaped  to  the  Connecticut  river,  fol- 
lowed it  to  its  mouth,  and  there  spent  the  residue  of  his  life,  and 
that  his  descendants  are  now  to  be  found  in  the  States  of  Connec- 
ticut and  New  York.  Andrew  returned  to  his  friends,  and  lived 
in  that  part  of  Exeter  which  is  now  Brentwood,  for  almost  half  a 
century  afterwards,  Stevens,  too,  returned  to  Exeter,  and  was 
taxed  there  in  1718. 

On  the  eleventh  of  June,  1709,  as  Ephraim  Folsora  was  riding 
home  about  sunset,  from  the  village  of  Exeter  to  his  house  in 
what  is  now  South  Newmarket,  he  was  fired  upon  by  an  Indian 
and  killed. 

In  1710  the  Indians  were  very  menacing,  and  scouts  were  kept 
up  continually  on  the  frontier.  A  few  rolls  of  their  names  have 
been  preserved,  which  show  that  Exeter  was  not  backward  in  fur- 
nishing men  for  this  duty.  Captain  Nicholas  Oilman  led  a  scout- 
ing party  from  June  21  to  23,  comprising  the  following  persons  : 

.John  Barber,  Thomas  Dolloff,  John  Dudley,  Jonathan  Folsom, 
William  French,  Dudley  Hilton,  Jonathan  Ililton,  John  Lougee, 
Thomas  McKeen,  Richard  Smith,  Kobert  Woolford  and  Richard 
York. 

And  from  June  23  to  25,  the  following : 

Daniel  Bean,  Jeremiah  Conner,  John  Drisco,  James  Dudley, 
Samuel  Dudley,  Stephen  Dudley,  Daniel  Fames,  Ephraim  Folsom, 
John  Folsom,  Jonathan  Folsom,  Cartee  Oilman,  David  Oilman, 
Edward  Oilman,  Jeremiah  Oilman,  Benjamin  Jones,  Daniel  Ladd, 
John  Ladd,  Nathaniel  Ladd,  Joseph  Lawrence,  Daniel  Leary, 
Samuel  Mitchell,  James  Sinclair,  Nicholas  Smith,  Bartholomew 
Thing,  John  Thing,  Daniel  Young,  Jonathan  Young, 

Captain  Nicholas  Oilman  was  also  in  command  of  a  detachment 
at  Hilton's  garrison  of  Exeter,  of  which  the  following  persons  had, 
on  the  third  of  Jnly,  served  seven  days :  Jeremiah  Arringdine, 
Samuel  Bean,  Daniel  Fames,  Cornelius  Leary,  Thomas  Lowell, 
Bartholomew  Thing,  John  York  and  John  Young  ;  and  the  follow- 
ing, fourteen  days  :  Armstrong  Horn,  Thomas  Leary  and  Samuel 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  225 

Lovering.  And  on  the  fifth  of  July  he  went  again  on  a  scout  of 
two  days  in  command  of  the  following  persons  :  Daniel  Bean, 
John  Bean,  Jeremiah  Conner,  Philip  Duda,  James  Dudley,  Samuel 
Dudley,  Abraham  Folsora,  John  Folsom,  Cartee  Oilman,  Daniel 
Oilman,  Jeremiah  Oilman,  Jonathan  Hilton,  John  Ladd,  Nathan- 
iel Ladd,  Daniel  Leary,  John  Nash,  John  Perkins,  John  Scribner, 
James  Sinclair  and  Daniel  Young. 

DEATH    OF    COLONEL    HILTON. 

Scarcely  two  weeks  after  the  return  of  this  scout,  the  enemy, 
who  had  long  been  on  the  watch  for  an  opportunity  to  take  their 
daring  and  dreaded  enemy,  Colonel  Winthrop  Hilton,  at  a  disad- 
vantage, succeeded  in  their  purpose.  He  went  out  on  the  twenty- 
second  of  July  with  a  party  of  seventeen  men,  to  peel  some  large 
hemlock  logs  which  he  had  cut  for  masts  the  previous  season,  and 
which  were  liable  to  be  injured  by  worms  unless  stripped  of  their 
bark.  They  were  lying  at  the  distance  of  about  fourteen  miles  to 
the  westward  of  his  house.  The  day  had  been  stormy.  While 
the  party  were  employed  in  doing  the  work,  a  body  of  Indians 
fired  upon  them  from  an  ambush  and  killed  three,  Colonel  Hilton 
and  two  others.  The  remainder  of  the  whites,  intimidated  by 
their  loss,  and  finding  their  guns  unser\T,ceable  by  the  wet,  fled, 
except  two  who  were  taken  captive.  These  were  Dudley  Hilton, 
a  brother  of  the  colonel,  and  John  Lougee,  both  of  Exeter.  The 
next  day  one  hundred  men  marched  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians,  but 
discovered  only  the  bodies  of  the  fallen.  The  enemy  in  their 
triumph  had  struck  their  hatchets  into  the  brain  of  Colonel  Hilton, 
and  left  a  lance  sticking  in  his  heart.  His  body  was  brought  to 
his  home,  and  buried  with  every  mark  of  respect  and  honor. 

Dudley  Hilton  was  never  more  heard  from,  and  probably 
perished  in  captivity.  Lougee  was  taken  to  Canada  and  thence 
to  England.  He  returned  to  Exeter  as  early  as  1716,  and  was 
married  and  left  descendants  there. 

The  enemy  were  so  much  emboldened  by  their  success  that  they 
appeared  in  Exeter  in  the  open  road,  and  carried  away  prisoners 
four  children  who  were  there  at  play.  Three  of  them  were  un- 
doubtedly daughters  of  Richard  Dolloff ;  and  the  next  that  we  hear 
of  them  is  from  a  petition  of  their  father  to  the  Assembly  of  the 
Province  in  May,  1717,  in  which  he  stated  that  in  the  preceding 
summer  he  went   to  Canada  to  redeem  them,  and  succeeded  in 

15 


226  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

getting  one,  by  paying  to  lier  Indian  captor  twelve  pounds  and 
seven  shillings.  For  this  money  he  gave  a  bond  to  Major  Schuy- 
ler, a  commissioner  appointed  by  the  province  of  New  York  ;  and 
he  prayed  that  the  province  of  New  Hampshire  would  afford  him 
aid,  that  he  might  go  again  to  Canada  to  obtain  the  release  of  his 
other  two  children.  The  assembly  voted  him  ten  pounds  in  1717, 
and  a  like  amount,  the  year  following.  The  printed  records  from 
which  the  foregoing  account  is  gathered,  are  supplemented  by  tra- 
dition, to  the  effect  that  the  children  were  on  their  way  from  school 
to  the  strong-house  in  what  is  known  as  the  "  garrison  pasture," 
and  were  stopping  to  play,  when  they  were  captured,  and  that 
another  child  had  just  gone  into  the  woods  to  gather  an  armful  of 
hemlock,  and  seeing  the  fate  of  her  companions  was  enabled  to 
conceal  herself  in  the  bushes,  and  so  escaped.  Tradition  further 
states  that  after  peace  was  established,  their  father  brought  two 
of  the  gii'ls  back  from  Canada.  The  other  one,  who  had  married 
an  Indian  husband,  also  returned  to  Exeter  with  the  intention  of 
remaining,  but,  thinking  she  was  slighted  on  account  of  the  match 
she  had  made,  went  back  to  Canada. 

The  Indians,  at  the  same  time  that  they  captured  the  Dolloff 
children,  took  John  Wedgwood  and  carried  him  to  Canada,  and 
killed  John  ]Magoon.  The  fate  of  the  latter  Avas  attended  by  a 
singular  coincidence.  Three  nights  before,  he  had  dreamed  that 
he  should  be  slain  by  the  Indians  at  a  certain  place  near  his 
brother's  barn.  He  repeatedly  visited  the  spot,  and  told  the 
neighbors  that  he  should,  in  a  little  while,  be  killed  there;  "and 
it  fell  out  accordingly." 

On  the  sixteenth  of  August,  1710,  less  than  a  month  after  the 
death  of  Colonel  Hilton,  a  company  of  ninety-one  men  marched, 
under  the  command  of  Captain  John  Gilman,  in  pursuit  of  the 
enemy.  They  were  out  five  days,  but  returned  without  meeting 
the  invaders.  The  roll  of  the  company  is  given  in  Potter's  INIili- 
tary  History  of  New  Hampshire,  and  the  commander  and  about 
half  of  the  number  appear  to  have  been  inhabitants  of  Exeter. 

The  following  named  persons,  believed  all  to  have  belonged  to 
Exeter,  served  at  various  times  in  1710  in  scouting  parties  in 
pursuit  of  the  savages,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Nicholas 
Gilman  or  Captain  John  Gilman. 

Jeremiah  Arringdine  John  Bean 

John  Barber  Samuel  Bean,  Jr. 

Daniel  Bean  Jeremiah  Conner 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


227 


Thomas  DoUoff 
John  Drisco 
Philip  Duda 
James  Dudley 
John  Dudley 
Samuel  Dudley 
Stephen  Dudley 
Daniel  Eames 
Abraham  Folsom 
Ephraim  Folsom 
John  Folsom 
Jonathan  Folsom 
Nathaniel  Folsom,  Jr. 
William  French 
Cartee  Oilman 
Daniel  Oilman 
David  Oilman 
Edward  Oilman 
Jeremiah  Oilman 
Andrew  Olidden 
Thomas  Oordon 
Josiah  Hall 
Dudley  Hilton 
Jonathan  Hilton 
Armstrong  Horn 
Benjamin  Jones 
Daniel  Ladd 
John  Ladd 
Nathaniel  Ladd 
Cornelius  Lary 
Daniel  Lary 
Thomas  Lary 


Joseph  Lawrence 
James  Leavitt 
John  Liijht 
John  Lougee 
Samuel  Lovering 
Thomas  Lowell 
Thomas  McKeen 
Alexander  Magoon 
John  Marsh 
Samuel  Mighill 
John  Perkins 
Thomas  Powell 
Jonathan  Robinson 
Thomas  Robinson 
Benjamin  Rollins 
John  Scribner 
James  Sinclair 
James  Sinclair,  Jr. 
John  Sinclair 
John  Sinclair,  Jr. 
Israel  Smith 
Ithiel  Smith 
Nicholas  Smith 
Richard  Smith 
Benjamin  Taylor 
Bartholomew  Thing 
John  Thing 
Robert  Woolford 
John  York 
Richard  York 
Daniel  Young 
Jonathan  Young 


OCCURRENCES    OF    1712. 

No  other  loss  of  life  at  the  hands  of  savages  occurred  iu  Exe- 
ter so  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  until  the  sixteenth  of  April,  1712. 
At  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  Timothy  Cun- 
ningham, as  he  was  travelling  from  Hilton's  garrison  to  the  village 
of  Exeter,  was  shot  down  by  a  part}^  of  Indians.  He  was  a  shop 
keeper  in  Boston,*  and  left  a  wife  and  four  children,  and  a  respect- 
able property  there.     It  is  not  known  what  errand  it  was  that 


*  The  writer  is  indebted  to  the  papers  of  that  distinguished  antiquary,  the  late 
Charles  W.  Tattle,  Ph.  D.,  for  information  as  to  the  residence  and  circumstances  of 
this  stranger  victim  of  savage  hostility. 


228 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


called  him  forth  on  the  journey  that  terminated  so  tragically.  His 
body  was  interred  in  the  second  burying-ground  in  Exeter,  where 
his  gravestone  still  remains,  with  the  inscription:  "Here  lies 
buried  y*  body  of  Timothy  Cunningham,  aged  46  years.  Departed 
this  life  y^  IG  of  April  1712." 

In  the  year  1712  the  following  men  were  drawn  from  the  Exe- 
ter companies  of  Captain  Nicholas  Gilman  and  Captain  John 
Gilman  for  a  scouting  party  under  the  command  of  Captain  James 
Davis.  Sixteen  others  from  the  same  place  served  with  these, 
but  as  their  names  are  already  given  in  the  list  of  1710,  they  are 
not  repeated  here. 


Edward  Bean 
Jeremiah  Bean 
John  Bean 
John  Bean,  Jr. 
Samuel  Bean 
Jabez  Bradbury 
John  Clark 
Ebenezer  Clough 
Tristram  Coffin 
Samuel  Dolloff 
Jonathan  Dudley 
Samuel  Elkins 
Jeremiah  Folsom 
Joshua  Gilman 
Morris  Gilman 
Alexander  Gordon 
Thomas  Harris 
Peter  Havey 
John  Leavitt 
Selah  Leavitt 
Samuel  Magoon 


Nathaniel  Mason 
Clement  Moody 
Abraham  Morgan 
Jonathan  Norris 
Jethro  Pearson 
Richard  Preston 
Owen  Reynolds 
John  Roberts 
Aaron  Rollins 
Joseph  Rolhus 
William  Scammon 
Samuel  Scribner 
Samuel  Sinclair 
Daniel  Smith 
David  Smith 
Nathaniel  Smith 
Joseph  Taylor 
Joseph  Thing 
Matthew  Thompson 
Robert  Young 


ASSAULT    UPON    THE    ROLLINS    FAMILY. 


The  last  Indian  raid  upon  Exeter  territory  that  history  relates, 
was  during  what  is  known  as  "  Lovewell's  war,"  on  the  twenty- 
ninth  of  August,  1723,  at  Lamprey  river.  Ixlward  Taylor,  who 
was  killed  by  the  Indians,  as  already  stated,  on  April  26,  1704, 
left  a  daughter  who  was  the  wife  of  Aaron  Rollins.  Most  of  the 
inhabitants  at  that  time  retired  to  the  garrison  houses  at  night, 
for  greater  security,  but  this  Rollins  and  his  famil}^  which  con- 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  229 

sisted  of  his  wife,  a  son  and  two  daughters,  had  neglected  to  do ; 
and  on  the  night  of  the  day  mentioned,  eighteen  redskins  assaulted 
his  house.  His  wife,  with  two  of  the  children,  attempted  to  make 
then-  escape  by  flight,  but  were  immediately  seized.  The  husband 
secured  the  door  before  the  assailants  could  enter  and,  with  his 
eldest  daughter  of  about  twelve,  stood  on  the  defence,  repeatedly 
firing  upon  the  enemy  whenever  they  attempted  to  force  an 
entrance,  and  at  the  same  time  calling  loudly  to  his  neighbors  for 
help,  which  none  dared  to  render.  Rollins  was  at  length  killed, 
and  the  savages  broke  open  the  door  and  slew  his  daughter.  Him 
they  scalped,  and  cut  off  the  poor  girl's  head.  Mrs.  Rollins  and 
her  son  and  the  remainiijg  daughter  were  carried  to  Canada.  The 
mother  was  redeemed  after  a  few  j^ears,  but  the  son  was  adopted 
by  the  Indians, -and  lived  all  his  life  with  them.  The  daughter 
married  a  Frenchman,  and  when  she  had  reached  the  age  of  sixty 
years,  returned  to  her  native  place,  with  her  husband,  in  the 
expectation  of  recovering  the  property  which  had  belonged  to  her 
father  ;  but  finding  that  to  be  impracticable  they  returned  after  a 
year  or  two  to  Canada. 

In  the  month  of  May,  the  next  year,  1724,  Captain  Daniel  Ladd 
of  Exeter,  was  ordered  with  a  company  from  the  same  place  to 
march  on  a  scoutiug  expedition  in  search  of  the  Indians,  in  the 
direction  of  Lake  Winnipisaukee.  They  were  most  of  them  absent 
six  days,  and  found  no  enemy.  Their  names  are  recorded  as 
follows  : 

Daniel  Ladd,  Captain  Abraham  Folsom 

Andrew  Oilman,  Lieutenant  John  Folsom 

Ezekiel  Oilman,  Clerk  Patrick  Oreing  (?) 

Daniel  Oiles,  Sergeant  Nathaniel  Olidden 

John  Moody,  Corporal  Joseph  Leavitt 

John  Huntoon,  Corporal  John  Magoon 

Abner  Thurston,  Corporal  Philip  Moody 

Xehemiah  Leavitt,  Pilot  John  INLidget 

Samuel  Akers  i  James  Xorris 

John  Bean  Ephraim  Philbrick 

John  Cartee  John  Quimby 

Joseph  Coleman  Chi'istopher  Robinson 

Jonathan  Conner  Jacob  Smith 

Samuel  Eastman  Jonathan  Young 

For  a  score  of  years  after  this  there  was  peace  with  the  Indians 
and  their  French  abettors.     During  that  time,  two  or  three  tiers 


230  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

of  townships  were  partially  settled  on  the  Canada  side  of  Exeter, 
so  that  that  place  was  no  longer  an  exposed  frontier,  and  did  not 
directly  suffer  from  hostile  inroads,  during  the  French  and  Indian 
war  which  began  in  1744.  But  the  town  was  from  time  to  time 
called  upon  to  furnish  men  for  scouting  parties,  and  for  the  pro- 
tection of  the  exterior  settlements.  The  following  troopers,  from 
the  company  of  Captain  Dudley  Odlin  of  Exeter,  performed  scout 
duty  to  Nottingham  and  on  the  frontier  from  July  29  to  August 
7,  1745,  in  pursuance  of  the  governor's  orders  : 

Jethro  Pearson,  Q.  Master  Daniel  Robinson 

John  Dudley,  Jr.  Ephraim  Robinson 

Jonathan  Fogg  John  Rundlett 

Peter  Hersey  Richard  Sanborn 

Ebenezer  Light  Joseph  Wadleigh,  Jr. 

THE    LOUISBURG    EXPEDITION. 

In  1745  occurred  that  seemingly  quixotic  campaign  against  the 
strong  fortress  of  Louisburg  on  the  island  of  Cape  Breton,  which 
was  projected  by  a  tanner,  "planned  by  a  lawyer,  and  executed 
by  a  merchant,  at  the  head  of  a  body  of  husbandmen  and  mechan- 
ics," but  which,  to  the  surprise  of  the  world,  resulted,  by  reason 
of  a  series  of  fortunate  accidents,  in  a  triumphant  success.  New 
Hampshire  contributed  five  hundred  men  to  the  expedition  in  the 
first  instance,  and  a  reinforcement  of  one  hundred  and  fifteen 
more.  From  Exeter,  Ezekiel  Oilman  went  as  major  of  the  New 
Hampshire  regiment,  Trueworthy  Ladd  and  Daniel  Ladd  as  cap- 
tains, James  Dudley,  Samuel  Conner  and  Jonathan  Folsom  as 
lieutenants,  and  Dr.  Robert  Oilman  as  surgeon  ;  and  John  Light 
enlisted  and  commanded  a  company  of  the  reinforcement.  No 
complete  rolls  of  the  troops  employed  in  this  enterprise  are  found, 
but  we  have  what  purports  to  be  a  list  of  Captain  Light's  com- 
pany, which  numbered  forty-seven  men,  nearly  all  of  Exeter. 

ROLL    OF    CAFTAIN    LIGHt's    COMPANY. 

I 

John  Light,  Captain  Caleb  Brown  (sick) 

Joshua  Winslow,  Lieutenant  John  Brown 

Jeremiah  Veasey,  Ensign  Jack  Covey 

Jonas  Addison  George  Creighton 

Joseph  Akers  Amos  Dolloff'(sick) 

Joseph  Atkinson  David  Dolloff 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  231 

Joseph  Dudley  Moses  Lougee 

Joseph  Dudley  James  Marsh 

John  Edgerly  Clement  Moody 

Moses  Ferrin  William  Morey 

William  Fifield  Joseph  Philbrick 

Moses  Flanders  William  Prescott 

Joseph  Folsom  EHphalet  Quimby 

John  Forrest  Benjamin  Robinson 

John  Gibson  Josiah  Sanborn  (sick) 

Joseph  Giles  Samuel  Scribner 

James  Gilman  John  Severance 

James  Gloyd  (?)  Ebenezer  Sinclair 

James  Gordon  Samuel  Sinclair 

Robert  Gordon  Abram  Stockbridge 

Joseph  Judkins  Jonas  Ward 

Daniel  Kelley  (sick)  Thomas  Watson 

"Nathaniel  Lamson  John  Wells 
Thomas  Lary 

It  is  evident  ttiat  the  rolls  of  the  New  Harapshu-e  troops  engaged 
in  this  expedition  are  verj"  imperfect.  A  petition  addressed  to 
the  General  Assembly  in  November,  1745,  setting  out  the  shame- 
ful defects  of  the  commissary  department,  is  subscribed  by  eight 
persons,  all  of  whom  describe  themselves  as  "commissioned  offi- 
cers" of  the  New  Hampshire  forces  who  took  part  in  the  expedi- 
tion. Of  these  eight,  seven  were  inhabitants  of  Exeter;  namely, 
Trueworthy  Dudley,  James  Dudley,  Jonathan  Folsom,  Andrew 
Downer,  Daniel  Gale,  Peter  Thing  and  Benjamin  Kimming.  But 
the  names  of  the  last  four  of  them  are  not  found  in  any  roster  of 
the  troops  that  is  known. 

It  is  on  this  occasion  that  the  town,  for  the  first  time,  granted 
partial  exemption  from  taxation  to  volunteer  soldiers.  On  the 
third  of  February,  1745-G,  it  was 

Voted,  That  all  who  went  in  the  first  embarkation  against  Cape 
Breton  be  exempted  from  their  town  poll-tax  rate  the  present  year, 
and  that  all  who  yet  remain  at  Cape  Breton  be  exempted  from  pay- 
ing theii-  province  rate  for  their  polls  the  present  year. 

Major  Gilman  distinguished  himself  by  his  ingenious  device  for 
transporting  the  artillery  over  the  swamps,  into  which  the  wheels 
of  the  gun  carriages  sank  so  deeply  that  they  could  not  be  moved. 
He  had  been  engaged  in  lumbering,  and  was  used  to  drawing 
masts  by  teams  of  men  over  boggy  ground  upon  sleds,  and  advised 
the  same  course  with  the  artiller3^     It  was  adopted,  and  with 


232  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

complete   success,  and   the  expedient  contributed  greatly  to  the 
speedy  reduction  of  the  town. 

Dr.  Oilman  was  severely  wounded  near  Louisburg  by  a  piece  of 
shell,  and  returned  to  his  home. 

OCCURRENCES    OF    1746. 

In  1746  a  regiment  of  eight  hundred  men  was  raised  in  New 
Hampshire  for  an  expedition  against  Canada,  and  placed  under  the 
command  of  Colonel  Theodore  Atkinson.  One  of  the  companies 
was  raised  by  Captain  Dudley  Odlin  of  Exeter  ;  but  no  further  in- 
formation in  reference  to  it  is  to  be  found.  The  expedition 
accomplished  nothing. 

On  the  first  of  June,  in  the  same  year.  Captain  Daniel  Ladd  of 
Exeter  commanded  a  company  of  about  fifty  men  to  perform  scout 
duty  at  Canterbury  and  vicinity.  His  lieutenant,  Jonathan 
Bradley,  and  a  part  of  his  men  were  from  Exeter.  They  were  on 
duty  through  June,  August  and  September.  On  the  tenth  of 
August  they  were  at  Rumford,  now  Concord,  and  Lieutenant 
Bradley,  with  a  party  of  seven,  started  for  a  garrison  two  miles 
distant,  and  fell  into  an  ambush  of  a  large  party  of  savages,  who 
killed  the  lieutenant,  fighting  valiantly  till  the  last,  and  five  of  his 
companions,  and  carried  two  into  captivity,  one  only  escaping. 

Two  days  after  Captain  Ladd's  company  set  out,  a  squad  of 
fourteen  men,  all  from  Exeter  it  is  believed,  marched  under  the 
command  of  Sergeant  Joseph  Rollins,  from  Portsmouth  to  Canter- 
bury, to  carry  provisions  to  the  soldiers  there  stationed.  They 
took  with  them  a  train  of  sixteen  horses.  The  roll  comprises  the 
names  of  Jeremiah  Bean,  Wadleigh  Cram,  Joshua  Folsom,  Josiah 
Folsom,  Daniel  Grant,  Samuel  Hall,  Thomas  Kimball,  Joseph 
Leavitt,  Samuel  Norris,  Jonathan  Robinson,  Josiah  Robinson, 
Josiah  Rollins,  Josiah  Sanborn  and  Benjamin  Smith.  They  were 
absent  three  days. 

On  the  twenty-first  of  August,  1746,  John  (or  Nathaniel) 
Folsom  of  Exeter  was  shot  dead  b}'  Indians  at  Nottingham,  where 
he  was  stationed  for  the  defence  of  the  inhabitants.  The  tradi- 
tion is  that  he  volunteered  to  take  the  place  of  a  neighbor  who  had 
been  drafted  for  the  service,  but  whose  sweetheart  was  unwilling 
that  he  should  go  ;  and  that  he  was  left  alone  at  Nottingham  by 
his  companion  soldiers,  before  those  drawn  to  succeed  them  had 
arrived  there  ;  also  that  two  of  the  Indians  in  the  party  who  killed 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


233 


him  were  Sabatis  and  Plausawa,  who  were,  in  the  fall  of  1753, 
slain  by  Peter  Bowen  and  one  Morrill  at  Contoocook. 


THE    CROWN    POINT    EXPEDITIONS. 

In  1755,  war  having  broken  out  again  between  the  English  and 
the  French,  and  an  expedition  being  projected  against  Crown 
Point,  under  the  command  of  General  William  Johnson,  New 
Hampshire  raised  a  regiment  of  five  hundred  men  for  the  purpose, 
and  put  it  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Joseph  Blanchard.  The 
Exeter  compan}'  consisted  of  eighty-four  men. 

The  following  is  a  roll  of  the  company,  being  the  imperfect  list 
given  in  Potter's  Military  History,  completed  from  papers  left  by 
Captain  Folsom,  who,  during  the  Revolution,  was  a  major  general 
in  command  of  the  State  militia : 


Nathaniel  Folsom,  Captain 
Jeremiah  Oilman,  Lieutenant 
Jonathan  Folsom,  Ensign 
David  Page,  Ensign 
John  Cartee,  Sergeant 
Gihnan  Dudley,  Sergeant 
Jonathan  Xorris,  Sergeant 
Elias  Smith,  Sergeant 
Jacob  Smith,  Sergeant 
Moses  Oilman,  Corporal 
William  Oilman,  Coi-poral 
Dudley  Hardy,  Corporal 
Solomon  Smith,  Corporal 
Nathaniel  Folsom,  Jr.,  Clerk 
William  Moore,  Drummer 
Moses  Baker 
Benjamin  Batchelder 
William  Batchelder 
Ebenezer  Bean 
Dudley  Becket 
Jacob  Bridgham 
Daniel  Cartee 
Benjamin  Cass 
Francis  Coombs 
Robert  Cram 
Thomas  Creighton 
William  Davis 
David  Doll  off 
Joseph  Dolloff 


Nicholas  Dolloff 
Benjamin  Dow 
Samuel  Dudley 
Trueworthy  Dudley 
Benjamin  Folsom 
John  Folsom 
Benjamin  Fox 
Edward  Fox 
Caleb  Oilman 
Jeremiah  Oilman,  Jr. 
Joseph  Goodhue 
Benjamin  Oreen 
Ambrose  Hinds 
Jacob  Hobbs 
John  Holland 
Ebenezer  Hutchinson 
John  Kimball 
Nathaniel  Kimball 
Benjamin  Kimming 
Joseph  Leavitt 
Nathaniel  Leavitt 
Oreen  Longfellow 
Nathaniel  Meloon 
Isaac  Perkins 
Thomas  Perkins 
Ephraim  Pettingill 
Joseph  Pettit 
Jacob  Pike 
James  Piper 


234  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Jeremiah  Prescott  Jonathan  Smith 

Samuel  Pulsifer  Solomon  Smith,  Jr. 

Joseph  Purington  Thomas  Smith 

Robert  Rollins  William  Smith 

Daniel  Sanborn  John  Steel 

Tristram  Sanborn  Nathaniel  Stevens 

Joseph  Scribner  John  Taylor 

Robert  Seldon  John  Thing 

Abraham  SherifT  Caleb  Thurston 

Abraham  Smart  John  Thurston 

Edward  Smith  Matthias  Towle 

Israel  Smith  Samuel  Webb 

Jacob  Smith,  Jr.  Josiah  Wiggin 

Jacob  Smith,  3d.  Samuel  AMnslow 

John  Smith  John  Whittum 


CAPTAIN    FOLSOM    AT    LAKE    GEORGE. 

On  the  eighth  of  September  General  Johnson  was  attacked  in 
his  camp  at  Lake  George  by  Baron  Dieskau  at  the  head  of  the 
French  troops  and  Indians,  who  met  with  a  disastrons  repulse. 
The  New  Hampshire  regiment  was  stationed  at  Fort  Edward, 
several  miles  away,  but  a  scouting  party  having  reported  that 
there  were  indications  of  a  conflict,  Captain  Folsom  was  ordered 
out  with  eighty  men  of  the  New  Hampshire  regiment  (presumably 
the  Exeter  company)  and  forty  men  of  New  York  under  Captain 
McGinnis.  They  attacked  and  dispersed  the  guard  placed  over 
the  baggage  of  the  French  army,  and  when  the  retreating  troops 
of  Dieskau  appeared,  Folsom  stationed  his  men  among  the  trees, 
and  kept  up  a  fire  upon  the  enemy  till  night,  inflicting  much 
damage.  This  exploit,  in  which  Folsom  lost  but  six  men,  and 
deprived  the  enemy  of  their  baggage  and  ammunition,  gained 
ereat  credit  to  that  oflScer  and  his  command. 

After  the  engagement  at  Lake  George  it  was  deemed  necessary 
to  reinforce  General  Johnson,  and  New  Hampshire  put  in  the  fleld 
a  second  regiment,  of  three  hundred  men,  commanded  by  Colonel 
Peter  Gilman  of  Exeter.  The  first  company  had  for  its  officers  two 
Exeter  men,  Jethro  Pearson,  captain,  and  Nicholas  Gilman,  lieu- 
tenant, and  was  composed  of  inhabitants  of  the  town  and  vicinity. 

A  contribution  by  several  of  the  citizens  of  the  town  in  Septem- 
ber, 1755,  produced  the  sum  of  two  hundred  and  seventy  pounds, 
to  be  divided  as  bounty  between  six  volunteer  troopers  in  the 
Crown   Point  expedition.     The    names  of  five  of  the  volunteers 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  235 

appear  by  a  contempoi'aneoiis  document  to  have  been  Nathaniel 
Thing,  Eliphalet  Giddinge,  Samuel  Conner,  Jr.,  Joseph  Smith 
and  Robert  Smith.     It  is  not  known  who  was  the  sixth. 

About  the  same  time  a  scout  was  led  into  the  vicinity  of  Number 
Four  (Charlestown) ,  by  Captain  Summersbee  Oilman.  It  is  un- 
certain who  or  how  many  others  of  the  citizens  of  Exeter  were  of 
the  party,  but  tradition  gives  the  names  of  Dr.  Robert  Oilman 
and  Captain  James  Leavitt  as  among  them. 

The  regiment  contributed  by  New  Hampshire  in  1756  for  the 
expedition  against  Crown  Point,  and  commanded  by  Colonel 
Nathaniel  Meserve,  contained  these  three  subaltern  officers, 
Samuel  Folsom,  David  Page  and  Trueworth}'  Ladd,  and  a  number 
of  men,  belonging  to  Exeter,  several  of  whom  were  attached  to  a 
company  of  carpenters,  under  the  command  of  Captain  John 
Giddinge.  Toward  the  close  of  the  campaign  Captain  John 
Oilman  joined  the  reguuent  with  a  company  of  seventy-three  men, 
recruited  from  Exeter  and  neighboring  places.  Little  was  accom- 
plished by  the  expedition. 

Another  "  Crown  Point"  expedition  was  organized  in  1757,  and 
a  New  Hampshire  regiment  under  the  same  colonel  took  part  in 
it.  John  Oilman  was  the  major,  and  John  Lamson  the  surgeon's 
mate,  of  the  regiment,  both  of  Exeter.  A  company  under  Captain 
Richard  Emery  was  raised  in  Exeter  and  the  adjacent  towns. 
The  greater  part  of  the  regiment  with  its  lieutenant  colonel  and 
major,  including  this  company,  were  surrendered  at  Fort  William 
Henry  on  the  ninth  of  August,  by  the  English  Colonel  Monroe, 
to  the  French  General  Montcalm.  The  capitulation  provided  that 
the  English  and  provincials  should  be  allowed  the  honors  of  war 
and  a  safe  escort  with  their  baggage  to  Fort  Edward.  This  stip- 
ulation was  shamefully  violated.  The  Indian  allies  of  the  French 
fell  upon  the  defenceless  prisoners,  and  plundered  and  butchered 
or  made  prisoners  of  a  great  portion  of  them.  The  New  Hamp- 
shire regiment  lost  eighty  of  its  two  hundred  men. 

CAPITULATION    OF    FORT    WILLIAM    HENRY. 

Of  Exeter  men.  Dr.  John  Lamson,  James  Calfe,  Antipas 
Oilman,  Thomas  Parker  and  Ctesar  Nero  (a  slave  of  Major 
Oilman)  are  known  to  have  been  carried  captive  to  Canada.  It 
is  believed  that  they  all,  excepting  Calfe,  eventually  returned  to 
their  homes,  though  Cresar  Nero  continued  a  prisoner  for  three 


230  HISTOKY  OF  EXETER. 

years  or  more.    As  for  Dr.  Lanison,  his  adventures  deserve  espe- 
cial mention.     When  the  savages  were  let  loose  upon  the  prisoners 
he  allowed  himself  to  be  stripped  of  his  clothing,  rather  than  lose 
his  !ife,  and  was  taken  a  captive  to  Canada.     His  Indian  master 
there,   when   under   the   influence    of    strong    drink,    repeatedly 
threatened  his  life,  and  the  doctor,  upon  application  to  the  French 
governor  at  Montreal,  was  ransomed,  and  despatched  to  France  in 
a  cartel  ship,  whence   he  was   exchanged  and  sent  to   Eugiand. 
There,  by  reason  of  his  familiarity  with  the  French  language,  he 
was  suspected  of  being  a  spy,  but  a  letter  which  he  wrote  in  exon- 
eration of   himself    attracted   the    attention  of    General   Edward 
Wolfe,  the  father  of  the  future  captor  of  Quebec,  and  Lamsou 
was  appointed  surgeon's  mate  in  the  king's  regiment  which  the 
elder  Wolfe  commanded.     But  Lamsou  desired  to  return  to  his 
home,  and  the  general  procured  him  a  position  on  the   Norwich 
man-of-war  bound  to  America.     He  thus  returned  to  Exeter  after 
an  absence  of  less  than  two  j'ears.     He  was  not  deterred  by  his 
hard  experience  from  subsequently  serving  as  surgeon  of  another 
New  Hampshire  regiment,  as  will  appear. 

At  the  same  massacre  at  Fort  William  Henry,  Major  John 
Gilman  was  fortunate  enough  to  escape  captivity,  but  at  the  cost 
of  losing  his  clothing  and  of  suffering  great  hardsliips.  It  is  said 
that  to  avoid  the  savages  he  was  obliged  to  swim  the  Hudson 
river  three  several  times. 

His  statement  of  the  loss  of  property  which  he  sustained  on  the 
occasion,  and  for  which  he  was  reimbursed  by  the  province,  is 
here  given,  as  evidence  of  the  style  in  which  an  officer  of  rank,  at 
that  day,  took  the  field. 

An  Inventory  of  Cloaths  &c.  Taken  by  the  Indians  from  Major 
John  Gilman  after  the  Capitulation  at  Fort  William  Henry  in 
August,  1757. — Viz. 

To  1  Great  Coat  £l5.-three  other  Coats  £40-  £55.    0.  0 

3  Jackets  £30-2  Waiste  Coats  £12- 
1  Gown  £9-2  pr  breeches  £14- 
5  White  Shirts  £25-4  Striped  Do  £10- 

1  pr  boots  90s.-2  pr  shoes  50s- 

2  Worsted  Caps  22s  6-3  Liunen  Do  20s- 
2  black  ribbands  22s  6-2  Silk  handk'fs  60s 
1  Tea  pot  15s-l  Coffe  pot  9s-2  tin  pint  pots  7s  6-  "j 

1  Do  ^  pint  2s     1  Do  Jill  Is  6    1  Tunnel  2s-Grater  Is  6  '}>  2.    6.  6 

2  Tin  Sause  6s-3  Tea  Spoons  Is  9  J 


42. 

0. 

0 

23. 

0. 

0 

35. 

0. 

0 

7. 

0. 

0 

2_ 

2 

6 

4. 

2. 

6 

HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  237 

4  lb.  Chocolate  20s     lib.  Tea  3os-8  lb.  Coffee  32s  4.    7.  0 

3  pr  worsted  stockins  lOOs-3  pr  Cotton  Do.  7os-  3  pr  yarn 

Do.  52s  6- 
1  gold  Laced  Hatt  £12     1  Ditto  plain  £4 
1  Wigg  90s-2  tin  Canisters  10s  1  lb  Ginger  5s 
Bible  2  Vols  60s     Sei-mon  book  10s     Ivory  book  15s 

1  book  of  Military  discipline 

2  c  Pump  nails  2s  6     ^c  lOd  Ditto  3s-l  brass  Ink  pot  10s- 

1  Pocket  knife  &  fork  "s-l  paper  Ink  powder  5s 

2  pr  gloves  20s-l  bridle  20s-Saddie  baggs  40s 
1  Comb  Is  6     2  blankets  £6-1  Chest  Lock  20s- 
1  gun  £17.  10    1  Sword  Silver  hiked  £20-1  Flask  30s 
1  Watch  £20     1  Tin  paper  Case  7s  6 
1  Pocket  book  5s    Cash  50s-Table  Cloth  15s 

1  glass  bottle  2s-l  Avooden  Ditto  4s- 

2  flat  Irons  33s  9,  1  Punch  bowl  13s  3d- 
6^  lb  Pewter  60s  9d-h  Doz  Tea  Cups  &  Sausei-s  15s- 
i  Doz  knives  &  forks  33s  9d    h  Doz  wine  glasses  33s  9 
1  pepper  box  2s-a  Cuttoo  6s-i^  Pins  4s- 
I  yd  Quality  for  gunstring  3s-  1  hodd  12s  6 
1  Sword  belt  15s-6  lb  Soap  18s 
To  my  Xegro  boy's  Gun  &  Cloathing 
he  being  taken  &  carryd  to  Canada 

New  Tenor 
Errors  Excepted  per 
Sworn  to  in  y*^  house  May  5,  1758- 

Memorandum 

The  Great  Coat  within  mentioned  was  of  Drabb  Kersey  almost  new  — one 
of  the  other  Three  Coats  &  one  pair  of  the  Breeches  were  of  blue  broad  Cloth 
Fine  (lately  made)  such  as  is  now  sold  for  £27  old  Tenor  per  yard  —  another 
of  the  said  Three  Coats  Avas  of  Fine  Duroy  lined  with  the  same  —  about  one 
Quarter  worn  —  The  other  of  said  Coats  was  of  Light  Coloured  broad  Cloth 
had  been  Turn'd  &  NeAv  lined  —  one  of  the  Jackets  was  of  Scarlet  broad  cloth 
fine  and  new  lined  with  white  Tammy  —  another  of  the  Jackets  was  of  Cutt 
Velvet  Figured  —  The  other  Jacket  was  of  Green  Silk  Camblet  Trimmed  Avith 
Silver  Twist  on  Vellum  —  the  other  pair  of  the  Breeches  were  of  Xew  Deer 
Skin  —  both  of  the  waiste  Coats  was  of  broad  cloth  light  coloured  about  half 
worn. 


LATER    EXPEDITIONS    AGAINST    FRENCH    POSTS. 

Immediately  after  the  capitulation  of  Fort  William  Henry,  a 
battalion  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  men  was  recruited  and  placed 
under  the  command  of  Major  Thomas  Tash.  One  of  the  com- 
panies had  for  its  captain,  John  Ladd  of  Exeter.  A  small  part  of 
the  company,  apparently,  came  from  the  same  place.     The  bat- 


11. 

7. 

6 

16. 

0. 

0 

5. 

5. 

0 

4. 

5. 

0 

0. 

15. 

0 

iOs-          0. 

15. 

6 

12. 

0 

4. 

0. 

0 

1. 

6 

39. 

0. 

0 

20. 

1. 

6 

3. 

16. 

0 

2. 

7. 

0 

3. 

15. 

9 

3. 

7. 

6 

0. 

12. 

0 

0. 

15. 

6 

1. 

13. 

0 

30. 

0. 

0 

330. 

13. 

3 

John  Gilman 

238  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

talion  was  stationed  at  Number  Four  in  the  western  part  of  the 
province. 

Yet  another  regiment  for  the  Crown  Point  expedition  under 
Colonel  John  Hart  was  contributed  in  1758  by  the  province.  Its 
surgeon's  mate  was  Dr.  John  Odlin  of  Exeter,  and  from  the  same 
place  went  Captain  Summersbee  Gilman  and  Captain  Trueworthy 
Ladd,  and  a  considerable  proportion  of  the  members  of  their  re- 
spective companies,  as  well  as  Ensign  Trueworthy  Dudley  of 
Captain  Ladd's  company.  The  regiment  was  divided,  a  part  join- 
ing the  expedition  against  Louisburg,  and  the  residue,  under  the 
lieutenant  colonel,  performing  guard  duty  on  the  western  frontier. 

In  the  year  1759  New  Hampshire  sent  a  regiment  of  a  thousand 
men,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Zaccheus  Lovewell,  to  serve 
under  General  Amherst  against  the  French  stations  on  Lake 
Champlain.  Exeter  was  the  headquarters  of  the  regiment,  and 
among  its  officers  were  Richard  Emerj^,  major.  Dr.  John  Lamson, 
surgeon,  and  Winthrop  Odlin  and  Samuel  Folsom,  captains,  all  of 
Exeter.  The  company  of  the  last  was  undoubtedly  composed  in 
great  measure  of  men  from  the  same  town.  The  regiment  partic- 
ipated in  the  reduction  of  Ticonderoga,  and  in  the  capture  of 
Quebec,  under  General  James  Wolfe. 

The  next  year,  another  New  Hampshire  regiment  was  raised  for 
an  expedition  against  Canada.  John  Goffe  was  its  colonel,  and 
Richard  Emery  served  again  as  major,  and  John  Lamson  as  sur- 
geon. A  company  from  Exeter  and  vicinity  was  commanded  by 
Captain  Jacob  Tilton,  whose  ensign  was  Eliphalet  Hale.  This 
campaign  resulted  in  the  capture  of  Montreal  and  the  reduction 
of  Canada,  so  that  peace  once  more  allowed  the  American  colonies 
to  turn  their  entire  attention  to  the  promotion  of  their  material 
prosperity. 

After  every  war  there  is  a  manifest  improvement  in  the  militia. 
Those  who  have  served  and  returned  from  the  field,  are  not 
satisfied  until  they  impart  some  of  the  soldierly  discipline  and  drill 
which  the}^  there  acquired  to  the  citizens'  military  organizations 
at  home.  There  had  always  been  a  militia  in  New  Hampshire 
from  the  earliest  settlement.  The  officers  prided  themselves  very 
much  on  their  titles,  but  the  exercise  of  their  commands  was  not 
very  regular  or  imposing.  If  a  man  could  shoot,  and  was  ready 
to  perform  his  tour  of  duty,  the  absence  of  uniform  and  ignorance 
of  facing  and  wheeling  were  excusable. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  239 

THE    EXETER    CADETS. 

Bxit  after  the  French  wars,  more  attention  was  paid  to  the 
niceties  of  the  military  art.  Governor  John  Wentworth  took  pride 
in  a  fine  display  of  soldiery,  and  in  1769,  encouraged  the  people 
of  Exeter  to  form  a  corps  (V  elite  as  a  sort  of  exemplar  to  improve 
the  character  of  the  militia  in  general.  It  consisted  of  a  battal- 
ion, termed  the  "Cadets,"  and  was  handsomely  uniformed  and 
equipped.  Several  gentlemen  of  the  town,  of  age  and  position, 
joined  it ;  among  them  George  Odiorne,  Christopher  Rymes,  James 
Hackett,  John  Emery,  Ephraim  Robinson,  Caleb  Eobinson, 
Nathaniel  Gookin  and  William  Elliott.  They  were  allowed  to 
choose  their  officers,  who  were  commissioned  by  the  governor  ; 
John  Phillips  as  colonel,  Samuel  Folsom  as  lieutenant,  Colonel  and 
Peter  Coffin  as  major.  In  1770  the  governor  came  up  from  Ports- 
mouth with  his  lady  and  suite,  when  the  commissions  were  pub- 
lished, and  dined  with  Colonel  Phillips  ;  and  two  years  after- 
wards, paid  another  visit  to  his  Cadets,  as  he  termed  them,  and 
was  much  pleased  with  their  military  proficiency.  The  colonel 
paid  great  attention  to  the  discipline  and  appearance  of  the  bat- 
talion, and  called  them  out  often  for  exercise. 

The  governor  furnished  new  bright  muskets  and  equipments  to 
the  corps,  and,  perhaps,  flattered  himself  that  he  could  rely  upon 
their  support  under  any  and  all  circumstances.  How  entirely  he 
mistook  his  men,  a  few  short  years  were  to  demonstrate. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE  REVOLUTION,  AND  THE  WAR  OF  1812. 

In  New  Hampshire,  the  American  Revolution  may  be  fairly  said 
to  have  begun  with  the  armed  raid  upon  Fort  William  and  Mary, 
at  Newcastle,  in  December,  1774.  This  was  strictly  an  uprising 
of  the  people,  at  the  bidding  of  no  higher  authority  than  an  ad- 
visory committee  ;  and  as  those  engaged  in  it  were  liable  to  be 
visited  with  condign  punishment  if  it  led  to  no  change  of  govern- 
ment, it  well  bespeaks  the  intensity  of  the  popular  feeling  of  re- 
sistance to  the  coercive  measures  of  the  mother  country. 

In  this  enterprise  a  considerable  number  of  Exeter  men  were 
concerned,  though  the  occasion  did  not  require  that  they  should 
contribute  anything  beyond  their  presence  and  moral  support. 
The  following  account  of  the  part  they  took  was  drawn  in  sub- 
stance from  the  lips  of  Gideon  Lamson  of  Exeter,  about  fifty  years 
after  the  occurrence  : 

A  private  scheme  was  laid  by  a  few,  the  last  of  November,  to 
get  the  powder  and  cannon  from  Fort  William  and  Mary.  General 
Sullivan,  Colonel  Langdon  and  Major  Gaines  and  a  few  that  could 
be  trusted  in  Portsmouth,  went  down  the  river  in  boats  in  the 
night,  and  were  to  be  supported  early  in  the  morning  from  Exeter. 
General  Folsom,  Colonel  Nicholas  Gilman  and  Dr.  John  Giddinge, 
with  about  twenty-tive,  who  carried  their  arms,  set  off  in  the  night 
agreed  on.  We  rode  into  Portsmouth  after  daybreak,  and  stopped 
at  Major  Stoodley's  inn  ;  no  appearance  of  the  design  ;  nothing 
was  said  about  Sullivan's  party.  We  had  coffee  about  sunrise. 
Major  Stoodley  looked  queer  on  such  guests,  with  guns  and  bay- 
onets. Colonel  Hackett,  with  fifty  or  sixty  foot,  soon  after  eight 
o'clock,  stopped  at  the  hay-market,  and  waited  for  information 
from  General  Folsom.  The  inhabitants,  on  Ilackett's  arrival, 
looked  on  with  wonder.  Little  was  said  iu  answer  to  inquiries. 
At  nine.  Colonel  Langdon  came  to  Stoodley's  and  acquainted 
General  Folsom  and  company  with  the  success  of  the  enterprise, — 
that  General  Sullivan  was  then  passiug  up  the  river  with  the  loaded 
boats  of  powder  and  cannon.  The  guard  at  the  fort  was  small ; 
no  resistance  was  made.     Governor  Wentworth  knew  nothing  of 

240 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  241 

the  affair  till  it  was  too  late.     The  narrator  was  the  youngest  per- 
son in  the  company  of  horse,  and  the  only  survivor  of  the  party.* 

While  this  account,  as  might  be  expected  from  the  lapse  of 
time,  and  the  age  of  the  relater,  is  incorrect  as  to  some  of  the 
details  of  the  transaction,  there  is  no  doubt  that  it  is  true  in  the 
main.  A  large  party  of  Exeter  men,  seventy-five  or  upwards  in 
number,  marched  to  Portsmouth  under  arms,  in  pursuance  of  a 
concerted  plan  to  render  any  necessary  aid  in  stripping  the  fort  of 
its  armament,  and  in  the  movement  they  were  headed  by  some  of 
the  principal  citizens  of  the  town,  whose  names  are  given  in  the 
foregoing  account.  For  this,  as  well  as  for  other  demonstrations 
of  his  sympathy  with  the  patriotic  party.  Colonel  Nathaniel  Fol- 
som,  two  months  later,  was,  by  order  of  the  royal  governor,  John 
Weutworth,  deprived  of  his  conunission  as  a  justice  of  the  peace, 

THE  POWDER  FROM  FORT  WILLIAM  AND  MARY. 

There  were  taken  from  Fort  "William  and  Mary,  besides  cannon 
and  small  arms,  about  one  hundred  barrels  of  gunpowder.  This 
was  conveyed  up  the  river  to  places  of  safet3^  There  is  a  popu- 
lar tradition  that  it  was  deposited  under  the  pulpit  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Adams's  meeting-house  in  Durham.  Quite  likely  some  part  of 
it  was  hidden  there  ;  but  as  it  was  important  to  put  it  out  of  the 
reach  of  any  party  that  might  be  sent  to  recover  it,  prudence 
would  dictate,  instead  of  storing  it  all  in  one  place,  to  distribute  it, 
and  at  rather  distant  points.  A  letter  of  the  time,  which  has  for- 
tunately been  preserved,  seems  to  indicate  such  a  disposition  of 
it,  in  Exeter  and  the  neighboring  towns. 

The  letter  contains  an  application  from  the  chairman  of  the 
Portsmouth  Committee  of  Correspondence  to  the  like  committee  of 
Exeter,  for  four  barrels  of  powder,  under  the  apprehension  that 
Portsmouth  was  in  danger  of  being  attacked.  This  was  on  the 
twenty-first  of  April,  1775,  two  days  after  the  opening  of  hostil- 
ities at  Concord  and  Lexington.  The  request  was  duly  honored, 
and  on  the  blank  leaf  of  the  application  is  a  statement  made  at  the 
time,  of  the  quantity  of  powder  stored  in  Exeter  and  the  vicinity, 
as  follows  : 


*  A  corroboration  of  this  statement  is  found  In  the  account  presented  afterwards  by  the 
town  to  tlie  Slate  of  New  Hampslilre,  as  follows: 

To  Capt.  James  Hackett's  company  to  Portsmouth 

to  take  the  cannon,  etc.,  £27.11.4 

To  Capt.  John  Giddings'  company  to  ditto,  etc.,  10.  II.  2 

To  Capt.  Eliphalet  Ladd's  account,  do.  6.   0.  0 

16 


242 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


Kingston,  in  po: 

ssession 

of  Ebenr  Long, 

12  barrels, 

Epping, 

do. 

David  Lawrence  &  others,  per  rect. 

8 

Poplin, 

Zach.  Clough, 

4 

Nottingham, 

Maj.  Jos.  Cilley,  Jr. 

8 

Brentwood, 

Capt.  Marshall  &•  James 

Robinson, 

6 

Londonderry, 

Messrs.  Sam^  Allison  &  John  Bell, 

1 

Exeter, 

Col.  Sami  Folsom, 

2 

(C 

Col.  Nathi  Folsom, 

1 

« 

Col.  Poor, 

2 

« 

Theophilus  Oilman, 

2 

<( 

Thomas  Odiorne, 

2 

« 

Ephraim  Robinson, 

2 

« 

John  Rice,  Esq. 

2 

(( 

Samuel  Brooks, 

2 

« 

Nath'  Gordon, 

6 

« 

John  Row, 

4 

(( 

[James  Pickering, 

4 

Portsmouth, 

Jos.  Avers,  deli^  by  Col. 
Dr.  Giddings, 

Oilman  & 

4 

72 


There  cau  be  little  doubt,  from  all  the  circumstances,  that  this 
return  indicates  the  depositaries  of  the  greater  portion  of  the  spoils 
of  Fort  William  and  Mary. 


THE  EXETER  VOLUNTEERS  MARCH  TO  CAMBRIDGE. 

Events  now  crowded  fast  upon  one  another.  On  the  evening  of 
the  nineteenth  of  the  same  April,  came  a  flying  rumor  to  Exeter 
that  tlie  British  regulars  had  marched  forth  from  Boston,  and  had 
opened  hostilities  at  Concord.  Very  soon  afterward  the  news  was 
confirmed  from  Haverhill,  with  the  addition  that  the  countr}^  was 
gathering,  and  a  severe  action  was  raging,  when  the  messenger 
left  to  alarm  the  towns.  The  inhabitants  of  Exeter  were  put  in 
great  commotion.  Men  thronged  the  streets,  discussing  the  mo- 
mentous intelligence  until  a  late  hour  of  the  night.  About  day- 
break the  next  morning  an  express  arrived  summoning  volunteers 
to  march  at  once  for  Cambridge.  The  bells  rang,  and  the  drums 
beat  to  arms.  There  was  no  hesitation  in  the  men  of  Exeter. 
Notwithstanding  the  absence  of  their  trusted  leaders,  Nathaniel 
Folsom,  Nicholas  Oilman  and  Enoch  Poor,  who  happened  to  be 
in  Dover,  they  made  haste  to  be  ready.  Some  cast  bullets,  others 
made  up  cartridges,  and  every  preparation  was  completed  in  the 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  243 

shortest  time  possible.  At  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  one  hun- 
dred and  eight  men  paraded  near  the  court-house,  armed  and 
equipped.  No  time  was  wasted  in  preliminaries.  Which  road 
shall  we  take?  The  nearest,  through  Haverhill.  Who  shall 
command  us  ?  Captain  Ilackett.  Are  you  ready  ?  demanded  the 
newly  chosen  officer.     Yes.     March  !     And  they  were  off. 

The  mothers  and  wives  and  sisters  of  the  volunteers  had  busied 
themselves  in  fitting  them  out  for  the  march,  and  bade  them  adieu 
with  tearful  eyes,  but  no  word  of  discouragement.  The  Exeter 
company  spent  the  first  night  at  Andover,  having  crossed  the 
Merrimac  by  ferry  at  Haverhill.  They  found  the  latter  town 
shrouded  in  gloom,  for  in  addition  to  the  prospect  of  a  war,  the 
best  part  of  their  village  had  just  been  laid  in  ruins  b}^  a  destruc- 
tive conflagration.  The  company  reached  Cambridge  about  two 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  second  day.  They  were  assigned 
quarters  in  one  of  the  college  buildings,  the  floor  of  which,  as  one 
of  the  men  quaintly  remarked,  tliej^  found  as  hard  as  any  other 
floor  ! 

The  next  day  they  elected  permanent  officers.  James  Hackett 
was  chosen  captain  ;  a  ship-builder  by  profession — resolute,  per- 
emptory and  courageous.  In  his  youth  he  is  said  to  have  served 
in  Major  Robert  Rogers's  famous  Rangers.  John  Ward  Gilman 
and  Nathaniel  Gookin  were  the  lieutenants,  and  John  Taylor 
Gilman,  Gideon  Lamson  and  Noah  Emery,  Jr.  were  the  sergeants. 
Nearly  all  of  these  served  in  some  military  capacity  later  in  the 
Revolution.  John  T.  Gilman,  then  only  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
was  one  of  the  most  active  aud  energetic  in  getting  the  company 
so  promptly  in  the  field.  He  was  afterwards  a  member  of  the 
Continental  Congress  and  fourteen  years  Governor  of  the  State. 

The  company  was  well  armed  and  equipped  for  actual  fighting. 
Twenty-five  of  their  muskets  were  from  the  stock  furnished  to  the 
Exeter  Cadets  by  the  royal  Governor  Wentworth,  who  little 
imagined  that  he  was  supplying  arms  to  be  turned  against  the 
authority  of  the  mother  country.  They  had  also  bayonets,  belts 
and  cartridge  boxes  well  filled  with  ammunition,  and  a  good  drum 
and  fife,  but  neither  tents  nor  blankets.  They  attracted  no  little 
notice,  by  their  soldierly  bearing,  and  were  handsomely  compli- 
mented by  General  Heath.  The  company,  as  such,  remained  at 
Cambridge  but  little  more  than  a  week,  when,  the  immediate  exi- 
gency having  passed,  some  of  the  members  returned  home,  and 
the  remainder  probably  joined  some  of  the  permanent  military 
organizations  then  forming. 


244  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Of  the  one  hundred  and  eight  men  who  marched  to  Cambridge 
on  the  morning  of  April  20,  1775,  no  complete  list  is  known.  It 
is  unfortunate  that  the  names  of  all  the  patriots  who  were  so  ready 
to  respond  to  their  country's  earliest  call  to  arms,  cannot  be 
handed  down  to  posterity.  The  few  which  are  known  with  cer- 
tainty, are  here  given  : 

James  Ilackctt,  Captain  Eleazer  Ferguson 

John  Ward  Gilmau,  Lieutenant  Ebenezer  Light 

Nathaniel  Gookin,  Lieutenant  Jonathan  Lougee 

John  Taylor  Oilman,  Sergeant  John  Light 

Gideon  Lamsou,  Sergeant  Caleb  Mitchell 
Noah  Emery,  Jr.,  Sergeant 

At  a  meeting  of  the  town  on  the  ensuing  fifteenth  of  May  it  was 

Voted,  That  the  men  that  went  to  Cambridge  on  the  late  alarm 
be  paid  ten  shillings  each,  and  that  Mr.  Hackett  be  paid  ten 
dollars  for  his  service. 

Voted,  To  refund  the  money  expended  by  the  committee  on  that 
occasion  ;  and  that  the  provisions  which  were  purchased  for  the 
support  of  said  men,  and  are  now  in  the  committee's  hands,  be 
taken  care  of  ;  that  the  powder,  ball  and  flints  be  returned  to  the 
selectmen. 

Voted,  The  thanks  of  the  town  to  the  committee  for  their  good 
service. 

The  accounts  of  the  selectmen  show  what  the  town  expended 
on  the  occasion : 

1775 

April.  Cash  paid  Timothy  Chamberlain  for  bread 
supplied  to  the  men  that  went  to  the  Lex- 
ington battle  £3.  10.  0 
Cash  paid  the  committee  for  tlie  money 
advanced  to  the  men  that  went  to  Cam- 
bridge 22.  10.  0 
For  purchasing  lead  for  the  town  to  make 

bullets  10.  0.  0 

1776  By  paid  74  men  for  their  service  at  Cam-  , 

bridge  in  April,  1776(5)  as  per  town  note  30.  7.  9 

1777  Paid    Eleazer    Ferguson,    Ebenezer    Light, 

Jonathan  Lougee,  John  Light  and  Caleb 
Mitchell  in  full  for  their  service  at  Cam- 
bridge in  the  year  1775  1.  17.  3 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.       *  245 

An  account  was  afterwards  presented  to  the  State  of  New 
Hampshire  by  the  town,  containing  these  items  : 

To  Captain  Hackett's  pay  for  his  company 

to  Cambridge  in  1775  £137.  13.  10 

To  Ephraim  Robinson  account  to  Cambridge 

in  1775  3.  0.  0 

EXETER    SOLDIERS    IN    1775. 

Of  the  men  who  filled  the  New  Hampshire  regiments  in  April 
and  May,  1775,  the  names  of  the  volunteers  from  Exeter,  so  far 
as  they  can  be  now  ascertained,  are  here  given. 

Of  Captain  Henry  Dearborn's  company,  iu  Colonel  Stark's  regi- 
ment it  is  stated  in  the  fourteenth  volume  of  the  New  Hampshire 
Provincial  Papers  that  a  part  were  from  Exeter.  The  tax  lists  of 
the  town  contain  three  of  the  names  on  the  roll  of  that  company, 
Jonathan  Gilman,  Jeremiah  Conner  and  Zebulon  Marsh  ;  but  these 
may  not  be  all,  as  a  considerable  proportion  of  those  in  the  army 
probably  had  not  reached  the  taxable  age. 

In  Captain  Winthrop  Rowe's  company,  in  Colonel  Poor's  reg- 
iment, were  the  following  persons,  with  their  several  occupa- 
tions and  ages : 


"O^ 


Jonathan  Flood,  husbandman,  31  Thomas  Creighton,  shipwright,  38 

Noah  Robinson,  blacksmith,  19  Spencer  Wallace,  "  30 

Ehphalet  Lord,  hatter,  20  Asa  Ireland,  saddler,  22 

Moses  Clark,  blacksmith,  19  William  Mugridge,  blacksmith,  17 

Moses  RoUins,       "  19  William  McKim,  barber,  47 

James  Beal,  cordwainer,  21  Cato  Duce. 

In  Captain  Philip  Tilton's  company,  Colonel  Poor's  regiment : 

Joseph  Marsh,  blacksmith,  21      Benjamin  Loud,  barber,  20 

Nathaniel  Coffin,  husbandman,       26      Joseph  Leavitt,  husbandman,         50 

In  Captain  James  Norris's  company,  Colonel  Poor's  regiment : 
Eliphalet  Norris,  blacksmith,  18 

Tn  Captain  Samuel  Oilman's  company.  Colonel  Poor's  regiment : 

Eliphalet  Coffin. 

In  Captain  Richard  Shortridge's  company,  Colonel  Poor's  regi- 
ment : 


246 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


William  Bennett 
Simon  Oilman 
John  Hilton 
Simeon  Marshall 


Thomas  Speed 
Elijah  Vickery 
Thomas  Webster 


Colonel  Enoch  Poor  was  himself  of  Exeter,  as  was  the  sur- 
geon of  his  regiment,  Dr.  Caleb  G.  Adams. 

Returns  of  the  following  companies  in  Massachusetts  regiments 
show  that  they  contained  Exeter  men  as  follows  : 

Captain  Jeremiah  Oilman's  company,  Nixon's  regiment,  Sep- 
tember 30,  1775 : 

Samuel  Magoon. 


Captain  Hugh  Maxwell's  company,  Prescott's  regiment,    Sep- 
tember, 1775  : 

Edward  Brown. 

Captain  John  Currier's  company,  James  Frye's  regiment,  Octo- 
ber 6,  1775: 

Michael  Brown. 

Captain   Isaac  Sherman's  company,  Baldwin's  regiment,  Sep- 
tember 26,  1775: 


Caleb  Robinson,  1st  Lieutenant 
Ebenezer  Light,  Sergeant 
Caleb  Mitchell,  Sergeant 
Jonathan  Cass,  Corporal 
Isaac  Grow,  Corporal 


Samuel  Lamson,  Sergeant 
Joseph  Brooks,  Sergeant 
John  Light,  Corporal 
Thomas  Carlton,  Corporal 
Moses  Lougee,  Fifer 


Daniel  Barker 
William  Cushing 
Joseph  Dolloff 
Simeon  Farmer  (Palmer?) 
Eleazer  Ferguson 
Caleb  Oilman 
John  Oilman 
Josiah  Gordon 
Theophilus  Hardie 
Ebenezer  Judkins 


Daniel  Leary 
Benjamin  Leavitt 
William  Leavitt 
Jonathan  Lougee 
Joseph  Lovering 
Dudley  Marsh 
John  Nichols 
Benjamin  Norris 
Samuel  Norris 
Abraham  Perry 


Joseph  Purmort 
James  Ross 
Elisha  Smith 
Samuel  Smith 
Trueworthy  Smith 
Josiah  Steel 
Isaac  Stubbs 
Bradstreet  Taylor 
Nathaniel  Thing 


Captain  Isaac  Sherman  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  had 
been  a  school  teacher  in  Exeter  ;  so  that  his  acquaintance  there 
enabled  him  to  enlist  so  large  a  number  in  his  company.  It  is 
probable  that  many  of  the  men  had  gone  to  Cambridge  on  the  first 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  247 

alarm,  April  20,  1775;  and  remained  there  after  their  comrades 
of  the  Exeter  company  returned  home  ;  and  the  fact  that  New 
Hampshire  did  not  organize  her  regiments  at  once,  would  explain 
why  they  and  others  joined  regiments  credited  to  Massachusetts. 

On  the  sixth  of  October,  1775,  the  selectmen  of  Exeter,  in 
response  to  a  mandate  of  the  General  Court  for  a  census,  returned 
fifty-one  inhabitants  "gone  to  the  army," 

In  December,  1775,  at  the  urgent  request  of  General  "Washing- 
ton, New  Hampshire  furnished  thirty-one  companies  of  militia  for 
service  in  the  army,  for  the  term  of  six  weeks.  Two  of  these 
companies  came  in  part,  at  least,  from  Exeter.  No  rolls  of  them 
have  been  preserved,  but  the  officers  were  as  follows  : 

Twenty-second  company  :  Benjamin  Boardraan,  captain,  Porter 
Kimball,  lieutenant,  Winthrop  Dudley,  second  lieutenant. 

Thirtieth  company  :  Peter  Coffin,  captain,  John  Hall,  lieutenant, 
James  Sinclair,  second  lieutenant. 

Each  of  these  companies  contained,  also,  three  sergeants,  three 
corporals,  two  musicians  and  forty-seven  privates. 

After  their  six  weeks'  service  expired,  a  regiment  was  organized 
from  the  members  of  the  thirty-one  companies  who  were  willing  to 
remain,  and  Captain  Peter  Coffin  was  commissioned  major  thereof. 
How  many  other  Exeter  men  served  in  it,  there  is  no  means  of 
learning,  as  no  rolls  are  known  to  be  extant.  The  regiment  con- 
tinued in  service  under  Colonel  John  Waldron  until  after  the  evacu- 
ation of  Boston  in  March,  1776. 

The  Exeter  rates  assessed  in  1775  against  the  following  persons, 
all  of  whom  were  in  the  military  service,  were  abated  :  Jonathan 
Brown,  Samuel  Hardy,  Thomas  Lord,  William  McKim  and  Tim- 
othy Sanborn. 

EXETER    SOLDIERS    IN    177G. 

A  return  of  Colonel  Poor's  regiment  in  1776,  shows  that  William 
Evans  of  Exeter,  twenty-seven  years  old,  enlisted  January  1,  and 
deserted  March  2 'J,  and  that  John  Gilman,  Jr.,  aged  twenty-two, 
was  sick  and  absent  July,  1776. 

In  June  and  July,  1776,  Colonel  Isaac  Wyman's  New  Hamp- 
shire regiment  was  raised  to  reinforce  the  army  in  Canada. 

Exeter  was  represented  in  it  by  Noah  Emery,  paymaster,  and 
by  several  members  of  Captain  William  Harper's  company,  of 
whom  we  are  able  to  specify  only  two  :  Jonathan  Flood  and  John 
Steel,  the  latter  of  whom  enlisted  as  a  private,  but  is  said  to  have 
been  promoted  to  orderly  sergeant. 


248 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


In  July,  1776,  a  second  regiment  was  organized  from  men 
obtained  from  the  militia  of  the  State,  to  reinforce  the  army  in 
Canada,  and  placed  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Joshua  Win- 
gate.  In  Captain  Simon  Marston's  company  were  the  following 
Exeter  men  : 


William  Bennett,  Ensign 
James  Rundlett,  Drummer 
Simeon  Marshall 
Edward  Eastham* 
John  Wadloigh 
Ebenezer  Ferguson 
Simeon  Palmer 


James  Creighton 
Levi  Robertson 
David  Fogg 
Seth  Fogg 
Simon  Drake 
Thomas  Webster 
Samuel  Dutch 


Simon  Oilman 
Moses  Leavitt 
Abraham  Sheriff 
Elijah  Vickery 
Kinsley  H.  James 
Samuel  Daniels 
William  Gushing 


On  the  nineteenth  of  September,  1776,  Colonel  Pierse  Long  was 
commissioned  commander  of  a  battalion  organized  on  the  continen- 
tal basis,  which,  in  November  of  the  same  year,  was  ordered  to 
reinforce  the  army  at  Ticonderoga,  and  was  there  stationed  when 
that  post  was  evacuated  on  the  approach  of  General  Burgoync  in 
the  year  following.  Adjutant  James  McClurc  was  of  Exeter,  as 
were  also  the  following  persons  : 


Joseph  DoUofF 
Joseph  Kennison 


In  Captain  Mark  Wiggin's  company : 

Eichard  Dolloff  Joel  Loud 

Benjamin  Perkins  William  Chelsea 

In  Captain  John  Calfe's  company  : 

William  McKim. 

In  Captain  Nathan  Brown's  company  : 

Benjamin  Hoyt  Wilham  Hoyt 

In  September,  1776,  the  General  Court  of  New  Hampshire  voted 
to  reinforce  the  army  at  New  York  with  two  regiments,  the  first 
of  which  was  placed  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Thomas  Tash. 
Captain  Daniel  Gordon's  company  of  this  regiment  contained  the 
following  officers  and  men  belonging  to  Exeter  : 


Paul  Lambert 


Zebulon  Oilman,  Lieut.    Dole  Pearson 
Jonathan  Norris,  Ensign  Josiah  RoUins,  Jr. 
Dudley  Watson  Samuel  Smith 

David  Jewett  Daniel  Barker 

James  Oordon  Jonathan  Woodman 


Caleb  Thurston 
Benjamin  Conner 
Abraham  Brown 
Samuel  Moody 
John  Nealey,  Jr. 


*This  name,  being  uncommon,  is  frequently  confounded  with  Eastman,  and  so  written. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETEll.  249 

In  the  month  of  December,  1776,  an  order  was  made  for  the 
drafting  of  live  hundred  men  from  the  several  militia  organiza- 
tions of  the  State,  into  a  regiment  to  be  commanded  by  Colonel 
David  Oilman.  Peter  Coffin  was  major  and  Samuel  Brooks,  Jr., 
quartermaster,  both  of  Exeter.  It  is  probable  that  some  six  or 
seven  of  the  members  of  Captain  Daniel  Gordon's  company  were 
Exeter  men,  but  it  is  not  easy  to  identify  them. 

From  a  return  of  the  men  enlisted  for  the  war  in  Colonel  Cilley's 
regiment  of  the  New  Hampshire  line,  1776,  it  appears  that  two  of 
them  were  from  Exeter,  viz.  : 

Samuel  Locke  Abner  Thurston 

EXETER    SOLDIERS    IN    1777. 

Upon  a  re-organization  of  the  New  Hampshire  troops  in  the 
continental  service,  in  1777,  the  roster  shows  the  following  officers 
from  Exeter  : 

In  Colonel  Hale's  (second)  regiment : 

William  Elliott,  Adjutant  Ebenezer  Light,  Second  Lieut. 

AVilliam  Parker,  Surgeon  Noah  Robinson,  Second  Lieut. 

Caleb  Robinson,  Captain 

In  Colonel  Scammell's  (third)  regiment : 

Nicholas  Oilman,  Adjutant  Nathaniel  Oilman,  Lieutenant 

Exeter  men  enlisted  in  the  second  regiment : 

In  Captain  Carr's  company  : 

Thomas  Webster  John  DollofF 

Samuel  Norris  Robert  Arnold 

In  Captain  Titcomb's  company  : 

James  Creighton. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  Exeter  men  hired  or  enlisted  between 
January  and  March,  1777,  for  three  years  or  during  the  war, 
belonging  to  the  fourth  regiment  of  militia,  to  complete  the  conti- 
nental battalions  : 

Henry  Barter  Trueworthy  Dudley  Joseph  Gordon 

James  Beal  Jonathan  Flood  William  Gordon 

William  Bell  Jonathan  Folsom  Isaac  Grow 

James  Creighton  Michael  George     •  Simeon  Haines 

Samuel  Davis  Cartee  Oilman  Jonathan  Hill 


250 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


John  Hilton 
Benjamin  Hoyt 
William  Hoyt 
Jonathan  HoiDkinson 
John  Jepson 
James  Kelley 
Ebenezer  Light 
Moses  Lougee 
Samuel  Magoon,  Jr. 
Jacob  Merrill  (Morrill?) 


Daniel  Morse 
Enoch  Morse 
Benjamin  Xealey 
William  Nealey 
Eliphalet  Norris 
James  Norris 
Samuel  Norris 
Paul  (a  negro) 
Noah  Robinson 
Moses  Rollins 


James  Rundlett 
William  Sloan 
Thomas  Speed 
Daniel  Sullivan 
Bradstreet  Taylor 
Abner  Thurston 
John  Wadleigh 
Thomas  Webster 


In  addition  to  these  we  find  on  various  rolls,  of  the  three  years' 
men  in  the  continental  regiments  in  the  spring  of  1777,  these 
names,  from  Exeter : 


Dennis  Bickford 
Edward  Eastham 
Simon  Oilman 


Edward  Leavitt 
John  Nichols 
James  Sloan 


Abraham  Wadleigh 


In  the  month  of  June,  1777,  the  State  authorized  a  battalion  to 
be  raised  for  the  defence  of  Rhode  Island,  to  serve  six  months. 
The  command  of  it  was  given  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  Joseph 
Senter.  Joseph  Leavitt  and  Enoch  Rowe  of  Exeter  were  respec- 
tively sergeant  major  and  quartermaster  of  the  battalion.  It  is 
believed  that  there  were  other  Exeter  men  in  it ;  probably  in 
Captain  Robert  Pike's  company. 

Later,  in  September  of  the  same  year,  the  alarm  was  spread  of 
the  incursion  of  Burgoyne,  and  orders  were  given  to  raise  one- 
sixth  part  of  the  men  of  the  several  militia  regiments  for  imme- 
diate service,  to  resist  the  invasion. 

Among  those  drawn  from  the  Exeter  men  in  the  fourth  regi- 
ment were  the  following,  most  of  whom  served  in  Colonel  Stephen 


Evans's  regiment 


Benjamin  Cass 
William  Chelsea 
Zebulon  Oilman,  Capt. 
James  Oordon 
John  Kimball 
Moses  Kimball 


Nathaniel  Ladd 
Eliphalet  Lord 
Joseph  Lovering 
Benjamin  Morse 
Jonathan  Norris,  2^  Lieut. 
Joseph  Permort 


Abraham  Sheriff 
John  Swett 
Ebenezer  Swasey 
Nathaniel  Thing 
Daniel  Tilton 


These  names  are  all  found  upon  the  tax  lists  of  Exeter,  and  it 
is  probable  that  there  were  others  below  the  taxable  age,  but 
liable  to  do  military  duty,  among  those  drawn. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


251 


In  addition  to  the  foregoing,  there  were  several  Exeter  gentle- 
men of  position  and  mature  years  who  volunteered  and  marched 
to  Saratoga,  under  the  command  of  Captain  John  Langdon  of 
Portsmouth.     Of  this  number  were  : 


Col.  Nicholas  Gilman,  as  lieutenant 
Maj.  James  Hackett 
Capt.  Eliphalet  Giddings 


Capt.  Nathaniel  Giddings 
Ephraim  Robinson,  Esq. 
Samuel  Gilmau 


The  taxes  of  the  following  persons  were  abated  in  1777,  upon 
the  ground  that  they  were  "  in  the  army,"  and  probably  all  in  the 
New  Hampshire  line. 


Henry  Barter 
Jonathan  Cass,  Lieut. 
John  Dean's  boy 
Ward  C.  Dean's  boy 
Trueworthy  Dudley 
Jonathan  Flood 
James  Folsom's  boy 
Jonathan  Folsom 
Cartee  Gilman 
WiUiam  Gordon,  Sergt. 


Isaac  Grow,  Sergt. 
Benjamin  Hoyt 
William  Hoyt 
John  Kimball,  Jr. 
Moses  Kimball 
Ebenezer  Light,  Lieut. 
John  Light 
Moses  Lougee 
James  McClure,  Adjt. 
William  McKim 


Joseph  Marsh,  Corp. 
Caleb  Mitchell 
Benjamin  Norris 
Caleb  Robinson,  Capt. 
Elisha  Smith 
Thomas  Speed 
Josiah  Steel 
Nathaniel  Thing 


These,  of  course,  were  exclusive  of  the  younger  men,  below  the 


taxable  age. 


EXETER    SOLDIERS    IN    1778. 


In  the  list  of  absentees  from  Colonel  Cilley's  (first)  continental 
regiment,  January  10,  1778,  were  the  following  residents  of 
Exeter  : 


William  Nealey, 

age  29, 

wounded ; 

left  at  Albany. 

Thomas  Hammon, 

32, 

deserted ; 

"     "    Exeter, 

Enoch  Morse, 

16, 

sick; 

"     <'  Fishkill, 

Abner  Thurston, 

20, 

wounded ; 

"     "  Albany, 

Absentees  from  Colonel  Hale's  (second)  continental  regiment : 


James  Rundlett,  Sergeant, 

23, 

missing ; 

left  at  Hubbardton, 

James  Beal, 

22, 

a 

u 

Thomas  Creighton, 

42, 

(( 

"     "  Ticonderoga, 

John  Nichols, 

20, 

(( 

"     "  Hubbardton. 

WiUiam  Bell, 

22, 

"     "           Albany, 

Edward  Wade, 

23, 

sick; 

tl         n                              « 

252 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


William  Gordon, 

24, 

missing ; 

Samuel  Smith, 

24, 

deserted ; 

Henry  Barter, 

25, 

a 

"W^illiam  Leavitt, 

25, 

<( 

Jonathan  Hopkinson, 

26, 

(( 

Dennis  Bickford, 

36, 

Noah  Marsh, 

22, 

John  Hilton, 

20, 

Jonathan  Hill, 

17, 

Cartee  Oilman, 

41, 

missing ; 

Simon  Oilman, 

28, 

ii 

James  Creightou, 

27, 

wounded ; 

left  at  Hubbardton. 
"     "  Fishkill. 


Albany. 


Jerseys. 
"     "  Hubbardton. 


Albany. 


It  is  to  be  recollected  that  this  reghnent  suffered  greatly  by 
casualties,  and  more  by  capture  at  the  battle  of  Hubbardton,  Ver- 
mont, after  the  evacuation  of  Ticonderoga ;  and  those  described 
as  missing  and  left  at  Ticonderoga  or  Hubbardton,  were  probably 
prisoners.  Those  described  as  "deserters,"  were  probably  not 
such  in  the  usual  acceptation  of  the  term,  but  simply  missing,  in 
the  haste  and  confusion  of  retreat ;  and  apparently  had  rejoined 
the  colors  before  June,  1779. 

When  the  invasion  of  Rhode  Island,  then  held  by  the  British, 
Avas  projected  in  1778,  a  number  of  Exeter  gentlemen  entered  into 
a  written  engagement  with  General  Sullivan,  who  was  to  lead  the 
expedition,  in  the  terms  following : 

Hampton  Falls,  April  12th,  1778. 
We  severally  engage,  if   called   by  the   Hon.    Major   General 
Sullivan  before  the  close  of  the  ensuing  campaign,  we  will  imme- 
diately repair  to  the  quarters  properly  equipped  for  battle,  as  volun- 
teers from  1-Cxeter  in  New  Hampshire. 


Samuel  Folsom 
James  Hackett 
Caleb  Sanborn 
Peter  Coffin 
Nathaniel  Oiddinge 
Thomas  Odiorne 
Eliphalet  Oiddings 
James  Thurston 


James  McClure 
Benjamin  Lamson  " 

I  SAvear  I  will  go  or  send  a  better  man 
Esq.  (William)  Parker 

goes  himself  or  send  a  hand 
Ward  C.  Dean 
Samuel  Oilman 


This  paper  is  given  as  a  proof  of  the  patriotic  feeling  which 
animated  the  most  responsible  and  respectable  citizens  of  the 
town ;  though  it  is  presumed  that  no  call  was  made  under  it  for 
the  military  service  of  the  subscribers. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


253 


EXETER    SOLDIERS    IN    1779. 

The  following  Exeter  soldiers  were  enlisted  between  April  and 
August,  1779,  to  fill  up  the  New  Hampshire  continental  regiments, 
to  serve  during  the  war  : 


John  Bardett 
Richard  Cook 
Samuel  Lock 


Alexander  Patterson 
George  Patterson 


It  appears  from  the  roll  of  absentees  of  the  second  New  Hamp- 
shire regiment,  June,  1779,  that  John  Sanborn,  a  farmer,  aged 
thirty-three,  was  a  private,  residing  in  Exeter. 

Five  Exeter  men  were  enlisted  for  service  in  Rhode  Island 
under  General  Gates,  August  28,  1779,  for  the  term  of  six  months, 
viz.  : 


Jeremiah  Polsom 
Nathaniel  Lovering 
Jonathan  Lvford 


Jonathan  Thing 
Levi  Thing 


A  return  of  the  men  enlisted  for  the  war  in  the  third  New 
Hampshire  regiment,  dated  December,  1779,  shows  the  following 
Exeter  soldiers,  viz.*: 


Abraham  Comings 
Richard  Cook 
Jonathan  Flood 


Daniel  Morse 
John  "Wadleigh 


EXETER    SOLDIERS    IN    1780- 


In  July,  1780,  Exeter  furnished  the  following  recruits  for  the 
New  Hampshire  regiments  in  the  continental  army,  to  serve  till 
the  last  day  of  the  succeeding  December.  Their  ages,  when 
known,  are  given : 


Prime  Coffin, 

30 

Richard  Loveren, 

20 

William  Cushing, 

20 

Joseph  Parsons, 

20 

Joseph  Dolloff, 

21 

Dole  Pearson, 

Ephraim  Dudley, 

21 

William  Robinson, 

26 

Trueworthy  Dudley, 

19 

Daniel  Taylor, 

Luke  Libbey, 

22 

Stephen  Watson, 

18 

Prince  Light, 

37 

In  the  same  year  Henry  Dearborn  paid  bounties  to  the  follow- 
ing Exeter  recruits  to  fill  up  the  continental  army  : 


254  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Michael  George  Daniel  Sullivan 

Samuel  Marsh  John  Weeks 

Benjamin  Morse 

In  July,  1781,  Exeter  sent  the  following  six  months'  men  to 
serve  in  the  continental  army  at  West  Point : 

]3aniel  Bickford  Richard  Loveren 

EXETEK    SOLDIERS    IX    17S1. 

From  a  return  made  by  the  selectmen  of  Exeter  May  25,  1781, 
it  appears  that  the  following  persons  from  the  town  had  enlisted 
in  the  New  Hampshire  regiments  before  January,  1781,  to  serve 
durins;  the  war  : 


^o 


Hem-y  Barter  Samuel  Marsh 

Richard  Cook  Benjamin  Morse 

James  Dockum  Daniel  Morse 

Zephaniah  Downs  Enoch  Morse 

Jonathan  Flood  William  Nealey 

Michael  George  James  Norris 

Cartee  Gilman  Samuel  Norris 

Ezekiel  Gilman  Alexander  Patterson 

Joseph  Gordon  George  Patterson 

William  Gordon  John  Powell 

Jonathan  Hill  Daniel  Sullivan 

John  Hilton  John  Wadleigh 

Samuel  Lock  Thomas  Webster 

Moses  Lougee  John  Weeks 

And  these  enlisted  since  January,  1781,  for  three  years  : 

Ephraim  Dudley  John  Edwards  Eliphalet  Rollins 

On  September  18,  1781,  the  selectmen  of  Exeter  paid  travel 
money  to  the  following  soldiers  in  Captain  Jacob  Webster's 
company  in  Colonel  Daniel  Reynolds'  regiment  of  militia : 

William  Gushing  Stephen  ]\Iarsh 

Trueworthy  Dudley  Phineas  Richardson 

Josiah  Gordon  Daniel  Watson 
Benjamin  Loveren 

The  whole  number  of  different  men  furnished  by  Exeter  during 
the  Revolution,  for  service  in  the  army,  was  not  less  than  two 
hundred  :  a  pretty  fair  jiroportion  from  a  town  of  less  than  eigh- 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  25.') 

teen  hundred  inhabitants.  Most  of  them  served  for  brief  periods, 
to  be  sure,  but  many  of  them  were  out  on  two  or  more  expedi- 
tions. A  few  were  probably  not  inhabitants  of  tlie  town,  espe- 
cially in  the  later  stages  of  the  war,  when  it  became  dillicult  to 
obtain  recruits,  but  it  is  believed  that  their  number  was  more  than 
counterbalanced  by  that  of  the  Exeter  men  who  were  hired  to  fill 
up  the  quotas  of  other  places. 

The  town  was  not  unmindful  of  those  who  went  forth  to  fight 
its  battles,  but  dealt  generously  with  them  and  the  families  they 
left  behind  them. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  town  held  on  July  8,  1776,  to  expedite  the 
raising  of  men  for  the  reinforcement  of  General  Sullivan's  army 
in  Canada,  a  bounty  of  two  pounds,  two  shillings,  over  and  above 
the  colonial  bounty,  was  promised  to  each  good  and  able  man  that 
should  enlist  and  pass  muster. 

On  the  nineteenth  of  January,  1778,  it  was 

Voted,  That  the  selectmen  be  a  committee  to  supjjly  such  fami- 
lies of  the  non-commissioned  officers  and  private  soldiers  belong- 
ing to  this  town  as  now  are  or  shall  be  engaged  in  the  continental 
service,  with  such  necessaries  of  life  as  their  circumstances 
require. 

A  subsequent  resolution  provides  similar  assistance  to  the  fami- 
lies of  such  as  have  died  in  the  service,  and  to  that  of  Captain 
Caleb  Robinson,  at  the  discretion  of  the  selectmen. 

On  the  thirtieth  of  March,  1778,  it  was  voted  that  Captain 
Trueworth}^  Oilman,  instead  of  the  selectmen,  be  a  committee  to 
furnish  aid  to  soldiers'  families ;  and  on  the  twenty-ninth  of 
March,  1779,  Captain  Eliphalet  Ladd  Avas  chosen  to  supply  the 
families  of  soldiers,  agreeably  to  the  resolution  of  the  General 
Court  for  the  purpose. 

On  the  twenty-seventh  of  March,  1780,  it  was  voted  that  the 
selectmen  supply  the  families  of  the  soldiers  with  money,  not 
exceeding  one-half  of  their  wages  monthly. 

On  March  21,  1782,  the  town  appointed  the  selectmen  a  com- 
mittee to  supply  the  families  of  the  soldiers  of  the  town  now  in 
the  continental  service. 

The  accounts  of  the  selectmen  show  the  following  disburse- 
ments under  the  foregoing  votes  : 

1778.  Supplying  soldiers'  families  £  570.    0.  0 

1779.  Cash  paid  committee  to  hire  soldiers  to  go  to  Rhode 

Island,  under  command  of  Col.  Mooney  1253.    0.  0 


£180. 

0.  0 

(37.J. 

0.  0 

2262. 

18.  7 

24. 

0.  0 

513. 

0.  0 

240. 

0.  0 

6000. 

0.  0 

12,119. 

14.  0 

18,510. 

15.  0 

25G  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

paid  hire  of  3  continental  soldiers 

"  continental  and  state  bounty  to  5  soldiers 
supplying  soldiers'  families 
paid  S.  Folsom  money  paid  to  hire  soldiers 
1780.    paid  committee  for  hiring  soldiers 
cash  paid  wives  of  five  soldiers 
committee  to  hire  soldiers 


These  last  euormous  sums,  fortuuatel}^  were  equivalcut  to  only 
a  comparatively  moderate  amount  iu  hard  money. 

Nor,  after  the  war  was  over,  did  the  town  forget  the  veterans, 
who  had  followed  the  fortunes  of  Washington  in  the  regular  mili- 
tary service.     On  March  29,  1784,  it  was 

Voled,  That  every  soldier  who  has  been  iu  the  New  Hampshire 
line  of  the  continental  army  from  this  town  and  who  has  received 
no  town  bount}^  shall  not  be  taxed  in  the  town  for  his  poll  for  so 
many  years  as  he  served  in  the  line. 

The  list  of  officers  belonging  to  Exeter  was  not  a  small  nor 
insignificant  one,  especially  if  we  reckon  not  only  those  who 
belonged  to  the  continental  line,  but  also  the  much  greater  number 
who  took  the  field  on  various  expeditions  or  emergencies.  It 
included  in  the  regular  continental  service  alone,  one  brigadier 
general,  one  major,  one  captain  and  A.  A.  general,  three  surgeons, 
three  commissaries,  two  captains  and  two  lieutenants. 

A  consitlerable  number  of  the  men  in  service  perished  from  cas- 
ualty or  disease.  Many  received  wounds  ;  and  the  names  of  two, 
whose  injuries  were  of  exceptional  severity,  were  for  years  upon 
the  State  pension  list.  A  few  lived  well  into  the  present  century, 
aud,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  enjoyed,  in  the  decline  of  life,  substantial 
tokens  of  the  gratitude  of  the  country  which  they  risked  their  lives 
to  sustain. 

The  jail  in  Exeter,  during  the  Revolution,  was  made  a  recepta- 
cle for  foreign  prisoners  and  for  tories  from  this  and  other 
provinces,  especially  New  York.  It  was  not  a  very  safe  place  of 
confinement,  as  was  proved  by  the  notorious  Henry  Tufts  aud 
others  having  made  their  escape  from  it.  A  guard  had  to  be  fur- 
nished in  1777  for  two  months,  when  it  was  filled  with  prisoners, 
to  keep  them  secure,  and  the  following  Exeter  men  were  employed 
in  that  capacity : 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER 


257 


Samuel  Oilman,  3d 
Theophilus  Folsom 
Samuel  Harris 
William  Odlin 


Simeon  Palmer 
James  Rundlett 
Samuel  Rust 
John  York 


THE    WAR    OF    1812. 

.  With  the  party  which  brought  on  the  war  with  Great  Britain  in 
1812,  the  people  of  Exeter,  in  common  with  the  majority  of  those 
of  New  England,  had  little  sympathy.  It  was  not  to  be  expected, 
therefore,  that  they  would  be  ready  to  volunteer,  to  any  extent,  to 
serve  in  the  army  in  that  contest.  The  town  earl}'  refused  to 
add  to  the  pay  of  the  militia  called  into  the  military  service  of  the 
United  States,  or  to  offer  them  a  bounty. 

In  the  year  1814,  however,  several  bodies  of  the  State  militia, 
which  were  composed  in  part  of  residents  of  the  town,  were 
ordered  out  by  the  governor,  for  the  defence  of  the  towns  on  the 
seacoast. 

Captain  Jacob  Dearborn's  company,  enlisted  September  26, 
1814,  for  sixty  days'  service,  contained  the  following  men  credited 
to  Exeter  : 


AYilliam  Pearson,  Ensign 
Isaac  Kendall,  Sergt. 
Albert  Carleton 
David  Goodwin 


James  H.  Hale 
Jonathan  Johnson 
Walter  Little 


On  the  ninth  of  September,  of  the  same  year,  Captain  Nathaniel 
Gilman,  3d,  was  ordered  to  Portsmouth  with  his  company  of 
militia,  tlie  greater  part  of  whom  probably  belonged  in  p]xeter. 

Their  term  of  service  was  about  three  weeks.  The  roll  of  the 
company  was  as  follows  : 


Nathaniel  Oilman,  3d,  Capt. 
Nathaniel  B.  Gordon,  Lieut. 
William  Odlin,  Ensign 
N.  P.  Poor,  Sergt.  and  Clerk 
William  Channing,  Sergt. 
Oliver  Brooks,  " 

John  Gordon,  Jr.,  " 
Samuel  Somerby,  " 
Thomas  Tyler,  " 

EdM'in  Channing,  Corp. 
William  Robinson,    " 
Phillips  Gilman,        " 
17 


Henry  O.  Mellen,  Corp. 
John  B.Hill, 
Abram  Prescott,  Musician 
Weare  Prescott,         " 
Samuel  Eldridge,       " 
Benjamin  Bachelder 
Moses  Bickford 
Nathaniel  Bickford 
Josiah  Blake 
Francis  Becket 
Benjamin  P.  Bachelder 
Benjamin  Barker 


258 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


Elijah  Bean 
Jonathan  Brickett 
James  Buiiey 
James  Clark 
Daniel  Colcorcl 
John  R.  CaldweU 
John  Clark 
James  Clark,  2d 
Daniel  Clark 
John  Cook 
Solomon  Davis 
William  Dickey 
Peter  Elkins 
Jeremiah  Edgerly 
Jeremiah  Fuller 
William  Fuller 
James  Folsom,  4th 
Josiah  Folsom,  3d 
Peter  Folsom 
David  Fogg 
Abba  Oilman 
John  Oilman 
Joshua  C.  Oates 
Francis  Orant 
Joseph  Greenleaf 
William  Hood,  Jr. 
John  Haley 
Joseph  J.  Hoyt 
Theodore  Hill 
Noj'es  Hopkins 
John  Lougee 
John  Leavitt 
John  Marsh 
Charles  Marble 
Benjamin  jNIelcher 
Eliphalet  Marston 
Meserve  Meader 
James  Odlin 


Joseph  Odlin 
Nathan  Parker 
Moses  Pike,  Jr. 
Samuel  Pottle 
William  Penney 
John  Peavey 
Moses  Perkins 
Samuel  Robinson 
John  Rowe 
Nathaniel  Robinson 
John  Roby 
LoAvell  Rollins 
Jacob  Rowe 
Meshach  Rollins 
Sargent  Rowley 
Eliphalet  Sweet 
Trueworthy  Swasey 
Benjamin  R.  Sanborn 
William  Sawyer 
Henry  Swasey 
Isaac  Shepard 
Amos  Stickney 
Oeorge  Smith 
Oideon  Scriggins 
Josiah  O.  Smith 
Joseph  Saffbrd,  Jr. 
William  Smith 
Abraham  Towle 
Ludovicus  Towle 
Simon  Taylor 
Lewis  Wentworth 
John  Williams 
Benjamin  Wiggin,  Jr. 
William  Wiggin 
John  Webber 
Benjamin  Webster 
Joseph  York 


On  the  tenth  of  the  same  September,  Captain  James  Thorn's 
company  was  ordered  to  Portsmouth  ou  the  same  service,  and 
remained  about  the  same  length  of  time.  It  is  believed  that  they 
were  all,  with  a  possible  exception  or  two,  Exeter  men.  Fortu- 
nately New  Hampshire  was  not  invaded,  and  therefore  their  cam- 
paign was  a  bloodless  one.  The  following  is  the  roll  of  the  com- 
pany : 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


259 


James  Thom,  Capt. 
Ilollis  C.  Kidder,  Lieut. 
Simon  Winslow,        " 
Jeremiah  Palmer,  Sergt. 
Jonathan  Dearborn,  " 
Edward  Lawrence,    " 
John  F.  Moses,         " 
Jonathan  Folsom,  Corp. 
Lawrence  Brown,      " 
Nathaniel  Rundlett,  " 
Stephen  L.  Gordon,  " 
Charles  Parks,  Drummer 
Joseph  Parks,  Fifer 
James  Chase 
David  Clifford 
Joseph  R.  Dearborn 
Jesse  DoUoff 
Robert  Dunn 
Nathaniel  Dutch 
Orrin  Edgerly 


Isaac  Flagg 
Samuel  Garland 
Samuel  R.  Gilman 
John  T.  Gordon 
Samuel  Haley 
Alexander  Hodgdon 
David  Keller 
Nathaniel  Kidder 
Levi  Morrill, 
John  S.  Noble 
Benjamin  Paul 
Henry  Ranlet 
Winthrop  Robinson 
John  Rundlett 
Charles  F.  Sleeper 
Benjamin  Swasey 
Edward  Thing 
Mark  Tilton 
Daniel  Veasey 
Jeremiah  F.  Young 


This  constituted,  so  far  as  is  known,  the  whole  of  the  contribu- 
tion to  the  military  service  rendered  by  the  people  of  Exeter  in 
the  war  of  1812. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE  WAR  FOR  THE  UNION. 

The  first  gun  that  was  fired  against  Fort  Sumter  by  the  Seces- 
sionists, April  12,  1861,  aroused  all  the  patriotic  feeling  of  the 
people  of  New  Hampshire,  in  common  with  that  of  the  entire 
North.  But  the  State  was  in  no  condition  to  contribute  any 
immediate  aid  to  the  force  that  was  demanded  for  the  defence  of 
the  national  capital.  For  years  no  regular  militia  organization 
had  been  maintained  by  New  Hampshire  ;  and  though  a  few  quasi- 
military  companies  in  the  larger  towns  existed  for  holiday  parade, 
they  were  in  most  cases  no  more  under  the  command  of  the  execu- 
tive, than  any  other  associations  of  civilians. 

But  when  the  President  issued  his  proclamation  for  seventy-five 
thousand  volunteers,  for  three  months'  service,  more  than  double 
the  number  needed  to  fill  the  one  regiment  requu-ed  from  New 
Hampshire,  were  enlisted  in  less  than  two  weeks.  In  Exeter, 
fifty-three  men,  most  of  them  belonging  to  the  town,  volunteered  ; 
but  before  the  first  regiment  was  fully  organized,  the  call  of  the 
President  for  forty-two  thousand  three  years'  volunteers  appeared. 
Those  who  had  enlisted  for  three  months  were  then  given  the 
option  to  volunteer  for  the  longer  term,  and  many  of  them 
accepted  it.  It  thus  happened  that  no  Exeter  men  were  included 
in  the  Fu-st  Regiment  of  New  Hampshire  Volunteers,  for  three 
months'  service. 

In  the  meantime  the  work  of  raising  and  organizing  regiments 
to  serve  for  three  years,  went  on  in  response  to  the  repeated  calls 
made  by  the  President.  In  nearly  every  one  of  these  Exeter  was 
represented,  by  original  members,  or  by  recruits  subsequently 
forwarded.  In  two  or  three  of  them  the  town  furnished  the 
greater  part  of  a  company  each. 

After  the  last  of  the  three  years'  regiments  was  dispatched, 
there  came  a  time  of  great  stress.  The  government  resorted  to 
conscription  to  fill  up  the  depleted  ranks  of  the  army.    Those  who 

260 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  261 

were  drawn  from  Exeter  duly  complied  with  the  requirements  of 
the  law.  But  the  subsequent  calls  for  troops  bore  hardly  upon 
the  town.  A  small  place,  with  a  steady  population,  the  departure 
of  the  large  proportion  of  its  young  men  left  comparatively  few  of 
the  class  from  whom  armies  are  recruited.  It  was  not  like  the 
case  of  a  large  city,  from  whose  superabundant  population  men 
can  always  be  found  for  any  enterprise,  "for  a  consideration." 
The  consideration  Exeter  was  ready  and  willing  to  pay,  and  fur- 
nished its  officers  with  all  the  money  that  was  needed,  to  All  up  its 
quotas.  But  the  class  who  were  willing  to  become  food  for 
powder  for  hire  merely,  can  hardly  be  expected  to  make  patriotic 
soldiers.  The  men  who  enlisted  for  the  town  in  the  latest  stages 
of  the  war  were,  to  a  great  extent,  strangers  to  Exeter,  and 
although  some  of  them  rendered  useful  service  in  the  field,  others 
were  mere  "  bounty  jumpers,"  and  never  reached  the  front,  but 
deserted  on  the  way  thither. 

And  on  the  whole,  Exeter  nobly  performed  her  part  in  putting 
down  the  Rebellion  and  preserving  the  Union.  The  lists  of  names 
given  in  this  chapter  will  show  how  large  a  proportion  of  her 
small  population  fought  for  their  country  on  land  and  sea,  how 
many  rose  to  command,  and  how  many  proved  their  devotion  with 
their  blood.  Every  call  for  men  was  promptly  met,  and  at  the 
close  of  the  war  the  town  was  credited  with  a  surplus  of  twenty. 

The  following  list  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  Exeter  who 
served  in  the  several  New  Hampshire  regiments,  with  a  brief 
account  of  the  military  history  of  each,  is  taken  from  the  Reports 
of  the  Adjutant  General  of  the  State.  It  is  liable  to  be  imper- 
fect, however,  as  from  various  causes,  those  reports  lack  com- 
pleteness, to  say  the  least. 

The  regiments  which  contained  Exeter  men  left  the  State  for 
the  seat  of  war,  at  the  dates  following  :  the  Second,  June  20, 
1861  ;  the  Third,  September  14,  1861  ;  the  Fourth,  September  27, 
1861  ;  the    Fifth,  October  29,    1861  ;  the    Sixth,    December   25, 

1861  ;  the  Seventh,  January  14,  1862  ;  the  Eighth,  January  24, 
1862;  the  Ninth,  August  25,  1862;  the  Eleventh,  September  11, 

1862  ;  the  Twelfth,  September  27,  1862  ;  the  Thirteenth,  October 
6,  1862  ;  the  Fifteenth,  November  13,  1862.  All  these  were  three 
years'  regiments  except  the  Fifteenth  which  was  for  nine  months 
only. 

THE    SECOND    REGIMENT. 

Oilman  Marston,  colonel,  mustered  June  4,  1861  ;  resigned  April  17,  1863. 
Brigadier  general  of  volunteers ;  repeatedly  severely  wounded ;  resigned 
April,  1865. 


262 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


William  H.  Smith,  captain,  mustered  1st  lieutenant  of  Company  E  August 
1,  1861;  promoted  to  captain  August  1,  1862;  transferred  to  Company  B; 
died  of  wounds  June  7,  1864. 

Albert  M.  Perkins,  captain,  mustered  1st  sergeant  of  Company  E  June  3, 
1861;  promoted  to  2d  lieutenant  August  16,  1861;  promoted  to  adjutant 
September  1,  1862;  promoted  to  captain  of  Company  D  June  18,  1863; 
severely  wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  July  2,  1863 ;  mustered  out 
June  21,  1864;  dead. 

William  H.  Colcord,  1st  lieutenant,  mustered  corporal  of  Company  E 
June  3,  1861;  promoted  to  1st  sergeant;  promoted  to  2d  lieutenant  May 
18,  1863;  promoted  to  1st  lieutenant  July  2,  1863;  wounded  at  Cold  Har- 
bor, Virginia,  June  3,  1864;  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Frank  H.  Hervey,  1st  lieutenant,  mustered  private  in  Company  E  Sep- 
tember 13,  1862;  promoted  to  quartermaster  sergeant  September  12,  1864; 
promoted  to  1st  lieutenant  May  20,  1865;  not  mustered;  mustered  out 
June  12,  1865. 


John  H.  Bennett, 
Charles  E.  Colcord, 

Andrew  J.  Currier, 

Calvin  L.  Dearborn, 

Frank  Ellison, 
Charles  A.  W.  Flood, 

Samuel  Flood, 

Peter  W.  Gardner, 

John  H.  Hale, 
Isaiah  T.  Haines, 
Oren  M.  Head, 
Elbridge  A.  Leavitt, 


Co.  E  *      must.  June  3,  '61 ;  transf.  to  4  U.  S. 

Artillery  Nov.  4,  '62. 
"      "        must.  June  3,  '61 ;  disch.  for  disab. 

Aug.  2,  '63. 
«'      "        must.  June  3,  '61  ;  w.  si.  July  2,  '63  ; 

must,  out  June  21,  '64. 
"     "        must.  June  3,  '61 ;  d.  of  disease  in 

hospital  Nov.  16,  '61. 
"      "        must.  June  3,  '61 ;  unaccounted  for. 
"      ♦'  "         "     "     "     deserted  Dec.  26, 

'62. 
"      "        must.  June  3,   '61 ;  disch.  for  disab. 

March  15,  '62. 
»      "        must.  Dec.  8,  '63;  transf.  from  Co. 

A12N,  H.  V.  June  21,  '65;  de- 
serted Warsaw,  Va.,  Aug.  18,  '65. 
"      "        must.  June  3,  '61 ;  disch.  by    order 

Aug.  30,  '62. 
"      "        must.  June  3, '61 ;  pro.  corp.  Jan.  1, 

'63  ;  must,  out  June  21,  '64. 
"      B,      disch.;  pro.  adjt.  8  N.  H.  V.  Dec.   1, 

'61. 
"      E,      must.  June  3,  '61  ;  disch.  for  disab. 

Oct.  16,  '62  ;  dead. 


*  The  following  contractions  are  used,  in  order  to  economize  space,  viz.,  must,  for  mus- 
tered; transf.  for  transferred;  dis.  or  disch.  for  discharged;  disab.  for  disability;  captd.  for 
captured;  w.  for  wounded;  si.  for  sliglitly;  sev  for  severely;  d.  for  died;  k.  for  killed;  pro. 
for  promoted;  corp.  for  corporal;  sergt.  for  sergeant.  In  giving  the  year,  the  centuries  are 
omitted. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


263 


James  Mclntee, 

Edward  Marshall, 
John  Mori, 

William  H.  Morrill, 
Dennis  Murphy, 

Daniel  Nelligan, 

Patrick  O'Neal, 
Charles  Page, 
Francis  Pettigrew, 
David  Pike, 
William  Robinson,  Jr., 

James  Rundlett, 

James  H.  Sanborn, 

John  Shepard, 
Jeremiah  Tanner, 
George  A.  Taylor, 
George  H.  Thing, 
John  0.  Thurston, 
William  H.  Twilight, 


Co.  E,      must.  Dec.  8,  '63 ;  transf.  from  Co. 

A12N.  H.  V.  June  21,  '65  ;  absent 

on  detached  service  Dec.  19,  '65. 
"     B,      must.  Aug.  8,  '64;  absent  sick  Dec. 

19,  '65. 
"     F,      must.  Dec.  11,  '63;  transf.  from  Co. 

A  12  N.  H.  V.  June  21,  '65  ;  must. 

out  Dec.  19,  '65. 
E,      must.  June  3,  '61 ;  k.  Williamsburg, 

Va.,  May  5,  '62. 
"      "        must.  June  3,  '61 ;  re-enlisted  Jan.  1, 

'64  ;  deserted  Fredericksburg,  Va., 

Aug.  10,  '65. 
"     K.,  must.  Aug.  18,  '64;  w.  sev.  and 

missing  in  action  Gettysburg,  Pa., 

July  2,  '63. 
"    F,      must.  Aug.  18,  '64 ;  must,  out  Dec. 

19,  '65. 
"    E,      must.  Aug.  30,  '62;    d.  of  disease 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Nov.  12,  '64. 
"    "         must.  Aug.  30,  '62  ;  must,  out   June 

9,  '65. 
"    "        must.  Aug.  30,  '62 ;  pro.  corp.  July 

1,  '63  ;  must,  out  June  21,  '64. 
"    "        must.  June  3,  '61 ;  pro.  corp.  March 

1,   '63;    w.   si.   July  2,   '63;   pro. 

sergt.  July  1 ,  '63  ;  must,  out  June 

21,  '64. 
Co.  E,      must.  Aug.    30,  '62 ;  transf.  to  Inv. 

Corps  Feb.  4,  '64;    dis.,  Feb.  20, 

'65. 
"       I,      must.  Aug.  30,  '62;  w.  si.    July   2, 

'63 ;  w.  May  16,  '64;  dis.  for  disab. 

Concord  May  20,  '65. 
"     E,      must.  Aug.  30,  '62 ;  des'd  Falmouth, 

Va.,  Dec.  17,  '62. 
"     "        must.  June  3,    '61  ;  re-enl.   Jan.    1, 

'64 ;  dis.  for  disab.  June  24,  '64. 
"     "        must.   June   3,    '61 ;    corp.;   dis.  for 

disab.  Aug.  2,  '61  ;  dead. 
"      "        must.  June  3,  '61 ;  w.;  re-enl.  Jan.  1. 

'64 ;  d.  of  disease  Oct.  28,  '64. 
"      "        must.   June  3,  '61 ;  must,  out  June 

21,  '64. 
"     K,      must.  June  8,  '61 ;  disch.  for  disab. 

Aug.  1,  '61. 


264 


HISTOKY  OF  EXETER. 


THE    THIRD    REGIMENT. 

John  E.  Wilbur,  captain  of  Company  B,  mustered  August  22,  1861 ;  dis- 
missed May  11,  1863. 

Andrew  J.  Fogg,  1st  lieutenant,  mustered  August  22, 1861  ;  2d  lieutenant ; 
promoted  to  1st  lieutenant  June  17,  1862;  resigned  May  9,  1863. 

George  H.  Giddings,  1st  lieutenant,  mustered  August  22,  1861 ;  corporal 
of  Company  B;  promoted  to  1st  sergeant;  re-enlisted  February  14,  1864; 
Avounded  slightly  August  16,  1864;  promoted  to  1st  lieutenant  October  12, 
1864. 

John  S.  Bryant,  1st  lieutenant,  mustered  August  22,  1861 ;  corporal  of 
Company  B;  promoted  to  sergeant;  re-enlisted  February  24,  1864;  pro- 
moted to  1st  lieutenant  April  6,  1865  ;  died  of  disease  May  23,  1865. 

Simon  N.  Lamprey,  2d  lieutenant,  mustered  August  22,  1861  ;  corporal 
of  Company  B;  promoted  to  1st  sergeant;  promoted  to  2d  lieutenant  July 
20,  1863 ;  dead. 

John  M.  Head,  2d  lieutenant ;  mustered  August  22,  1861 ;  sergeant  of 
Company  B  ;  promoted  to  2d  lieutenant  August  22,  1862  ;  dead. 

Co.  B, 


Woodbury  Beny, 
John  Broadbent, 
Samuel  Caban, 

William  Caban, 
James  Carlisle, 
Gideon  Carter,  Jr., 
Edward  F.  Carver, 
John  W.  Clement, 

Charles  W.  Colbath, 
Ezra  G.  Colcord, 
Warren  S.  Dearborn, 

Cornelius  Donovan, 


must.  Aug.  22,  '61 ;  must,  out  Aug. 

23,  '64. 
must.  Aug.  22,  '61  ;  pro.  corp. ;  dis. 

for  disab.  Dec.  4,  '62. 
must.  Aug.  22,  '61 ;  w.  June  16,  '62; 

disch.  on  account  of  wds.  Sept.  2, 

'62. 
must.  Aug.  22,  '61  ;  w.  sev.  June  16, 

'62 ;  d.  of  wds.  June  30,  '62. 
must.  Aug.  22,  '61 ;  w.  si.  May    13, 

'64 ;  must,  out  Aug.  23,  '64 ;  dead, 
must.  Aug.  22,  '61  ;  must,  out  Aug. 

23,  '64. 
must.  Aug.  22,  '61 ;  must,  out  Aug. 

23, '64;  dead, 
must.  Aug.  22,  '61 ;  pro.  corp.  ;  red. 

to  ranks;  pro.  corp.  Dec.   5,  '62; 

must,  out  Aug.  23,  '64. 
must.  Aug.  22,  '61 ;  w.    si.  May  13, 

'64  ;  must,  out  Aug.  23,  '64. 
must.  Aug.  22,  '61  ;  corp. ;  transf.  to 

U.  S.  Sig.  Corps  Feb.  29,  '64. 
must.  Aug.  22,  '61 ;  w.  July  10,  '63, 

pro.  corp. ;  re-enl.  Feb.  22,  '64 ;  w. 

by  disch.  of  own  rifle  May  13,  '64; 
must.  Aug.  22,  '61  ;  transf.  to  V.  R. 

Corps  Sept.  16,  '63. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


265 


Daniel  W.  Dudley, 

Sereno  G.  Dudley, 
John  Duffy, 
Daniel  W.  Elliott, 

Joshua  Fieldsend, 
John  Finn, 
Edward  F.  Hall, 

Horace  J.  Hall, 
Erskine  W.  Hebbard, 
George  R.  James, 
Booth  Kaye, 
Joseph  Ward  Leavitt, 

William  R.  Leavitt, 
John  M.  Mallon, 
William  S.  Marston, 

WiUiam  J.  Morrison, 

Joseph  E.  Prescott, 

John  Riley,  Jr., 
Ambrose  E.  Rowell, 


Co.  B.  must.  Aug.  22,  '61 ;  pro.  corp.  July 
7,  '63 ;  w.  si.  May  16,  '64 ;  must, 
out  Aug.  23,  '64. 

»    "        must.  Aug.  22,  '61 ;  must,  out  Feb. 

22,  '64. 

"    "        d.    of  disease,  Hilton   Head,  S.  C, 

Sept.  21,  '62. 
"    "        must.  Aug.  22,  '61 ;  w.  June  16,  '62. 

pro.  Corp.  June  23,  '63 ;  must,  out 

Aug.  23,  '64. 
"    "  '      must.  Aug.  22,  '61 ;  must,  out  Aug. 

23,  '64. 

"    C,      must.  Aug.   22,  '61;  dis.    for  disab. 

Hilton  Head,  S.  C,  Dec.  26,  '62. 
''    B,      must.  Aug.  22,  '61 ;  lostrt.  arm  Aug. 

16,    '64;  must,  out  Oct.  23,    '64; 

dead. 
"    "        must.  Aug.  22,  '61 ;  d.  of  disease  July 

19,  '63. 
"    "        must.  Aug.  22,  '61;  dis.    for    disab. 

July  28,  '62. 
"    1),      must.  Aug.  23, '61 ;  wagoner;  re-enl. 

Feb.  27,  '64. 
"    B,      must.   Aug.    22,    '61 ;  d.    of  disease 

Aug.  20,  '63. 
"    "        must.     Aug.     22,    '61  ;    pro.    corp.; 

re-enl.  Feb.l  3,  '64;  pro.  1  sergt.; 

July  7,  '65  ;  must,  out  July  20,  '65. 
"    "        must.    Aug.    22,    '61;  d.    of   disease 

Feb.  18,  '62. 
"    D,      must.  Aug.  23,  '61  ;  pro.  corp. ;  dis. 

for  disab.  March  16,  '63. 
"    B,      must.  Aug.  22,  '61  ;  w.  June  16,  '62; 

transf.  to  U.  S.  Sig.  Corps  Oct.  13, 

'63. 
"    "        must.  Aug.   22,    '61  ;  corp. ;  red.    to 

ranks  Sept.  24,  '61  ;  pro.  corp.  Oct. 

11,  '61;  pro.  sergt.    Oct.   18, '62  ; 

must,  out  Aug.  23,  '64. 
"    "        must.  Aug.  22,  '61 ;  re-enl.  Feb.  14, 

'64 ;  pro.  corp. ;  d.  of  dis.  Ports- 
mouth, R,  I.,  Oct.  29,  '64. 
"    "        must.  Aug.  22,  '61;  re-enl.    Jan.   1, 

'64;  dead. 
"    "        must.  Aug.  22, '61 ;  Corp.;  suspended; 

reinstated  ;  re-enl.  Feb.  22,  '64. 


266 

William  Senior, 

James  Smith, 

Jacob  1).  Stone, 
Frederic  F.  Thing, 

John  H.  Thing, 

James  H.  Tattle, 

Irvin  M.  Watson, 
Jeremiah  S.  Weeks, 


HISTORY  OF  EXETEK. 

Co.  B,      must.  Aug.  22,  '61 ;  must,  out  Aug. 

23,  '64. 
"      I,      must.  Jan.  6,  '63  ;  w.  Aug.  16,  '64 ; 

pro.  Corp.  May  1,  '65;  must,  out 

July  20,  '65. 
"    B,      must.  Aug.  22,  '61  ;  dis.  for   disab. 

Dec.  13,  '62. 
"    "        must.  Sept.  17,  '62;  destd. ;  sentenced 

to  hard  labor  and  forfeit,  of  pay ; 

must,  out  Sfept.  17,  '65. 
"    "        must.  Aug.  22, '61  ;  sergt. ;  pro.  1st 

sergt. ;    red.    to    r. ;    pro.    sergt. ; 

pro.  sergt.  major  April  5,  '64;  must. 

out  Aug.  23,  '64. 
"    '<        must.  Aug.  22,  '61  ;  re-enl.  Feb.   14, 

'64 ;  killed  Deep  Run,  Va.,  Aug. 

16,  '64. 
**    "        must.  Aug.  22,  '61  ;  sergt.;  must,  out 

Aug.  23,  '64. 
"    "        must.   Aug.    22,   '61 ;  d.    of  disease 

March  23,  '63. 


Abram  Dearborn, 
Charles  McDonald, 
Joseph  Nichols, 
George  E.  Thing, 


THE    FOURTH    REGIMENT. 

Co.  B,      must.   Sept.  18,  '61  ;  dis.  for   disab. 

Beaufort,  S.  C,  Sept.  15,  '62 ;  dead. 

"    "        must.  Dec.  8,  '63  ;  desrtd.  New  York 

city,  Nov.  12,  '64. 
"    I,      must.  Dec.  8,  '63 ;  must,   out   June 

22,  '65. 
"    B,      must.   Sept.  18,  '61 ;  dis.  for  disab. 
Annapolis,  Md.,  Oct.  19,  '61. 


THE    FIFTH    REGIMENT. 


Thomas  Warburton,  1st  lieutenant,  mustered  August  11,  1863,  private 
in  Company  I ;  wounded  June  16, 1864  ;  promoted  to  1st  lieutenant  October 
28,  1864 ;  mustered  out  June  28,  1865. 


Daniel  Bennett, 
Benjamin  F.  Bowley, 

William  Brown, 


Co.  H,      must.  Aug.  10,  '64  ;  must,  out  June 

28,  '65. 
"    I,      must.  Aug.  11, '63;  w.  June  3,' 64; 

pro.  corp.  Nov.  1,  '64;  must,  out 

June  28,  '65  ;  dead. 
"  H,      must.  Aug.  17,  '64;  must,  out  June 

28,  '65. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


267 


George  H.  Bussell, 
John  Campbell, 
John  Clark, 
Joseph  Dailey, 

Abraham  Dearborn, 
Victor  Dixon, 
John  House, 
Robert  Jackson, 
Patrick  Kelley, 
Edward  Lafferty, 

Daniel  Moore, 
Patrick  McMuUen, 
Francis  Mullen, 
Joseph  Murray, 
Joseph  B.  Sawyer, 
John  Scanlan, 
William  Smith, 
John  White, 


Co.  I,      must.  Dec.  7,  '63 ;  transf.  to  U.   S. 

Navy  April  19,  '64. 
"  H,      must.  Aug.  16,  '64 ;  w.  April  7,  '65  ; 

must,  out  June  15,  '65. 
"  "        must.  Aug.  8,  '64;  must,  out  June 

28,  '65. 
"  A,      must.  Aug.  16,  '64;  missing  April  7, 

'65  ;  regained ;  must,  out  June  28, 

'65. 
"    I,      must.  Aug.  11,  '63;  transf.  to  Inv. 

Corps  April  26,  '64  ;  dead. 
"    B,      must.  Aug.  18,  '64  ;  must,  out  June 

28,  '65. 
"    A,      must.  Aug.  17,  '64;  pro.    corp. ;  w. 

April  7,  '65  ;  absent  sick  since, 
must.   Aug.    22,    '64 ;  sup.   to   have 

deserted  en  route  to  regiment. 
"    C,      must.  Aug.  11, '63;  must,  out  June 

28,  '65. 
"  H,      must.  Dec.    28,   '63;  deserted   from 

hospital  Alexandi'ia,  Va.,  Nov.  15, 

'64. 
must.   Aug.    22,   '64 ;  sup.   to   have 

deserted  en  route  to  regiment, 
must.   Aug.    16,    '64 ;  sup.   to    have 

deserted  en  rovie  to  regiment. 
"  D,      must.  Aug.  11,  '63.  w.  June  3,  '64  ; 

must,  out  June  28,  '65. 
"  K,      must.  Dec.  7,  '63  ;  missing  at  Cold 

Harbor,  Va.,  June  3,  '64. 
•'    E,      must.  Aug.  11,  '63  ;  absent  sick  since 

May  26,  '64  ;  dead. 
"    E,      must.  Aug.  16,  '64  ;  pro.  corp.  June 

11,  '65  ;  must,  out  June  28,  '65. 
"    K,      must,  Dec.    7,   '63  ;  deserted.  Front 

Royal,  Va.,  June  1,  '64. 
"    G,      must.  Aug.    16,    '64 ;  d.   of  disease 

July  5,  '65. 


THE    SIXTH    REGIMENT. 

Henry  H.  Pearson,  lieutenant  colonel,  mustered  November  30,  1861  ; 
captain  of  Company  C ;  promoted  to  lieutenant  colonel  October  15,  1862  ; 
killed  in  action  May  26,  1864. 

Matthew  N.  Greenleaf,  captain,  mustered  November  2,  1861  ;  sergeant  of 
Company  C;  promoted  to  2d  lieutenant  April  29,  1862;  promoted  to  1st 


268 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


lieutenant  November  12,  1862;  promoted  to  captain  July  1,  1863;  wounded 
July  30,  1864;  honorably  discharged  November  28,  1864;  restored  to  rank 
March  1,  1865;  mustered  out  July  29,  1865. 


Edward  T.  Bennett, 
Albert  Bowley, 
Albert  A.  Bowley, 
Benjamin  F.  Bowley, 
Ezekiel  Clough, 
Thomas  H.  Clough, 
Thomas  Clough, 

Lucius  Cole, 
Frank  Corcoran, 

Andrew  J.  Davis, 
John  Doody, 

William  Doody, 

James  Elkins, 
James  M.  Farnum, 

John  G.  C.  FuUer, 

David  F.  Oilman. 


Co.  C,      must.  Nov.  27,  '61 ;  dis.  for  disab. 

Georgetown,  D.  C,  June  6,  '62. 
"    "        must.    Nov.  27,  '61 ;  dis.  for  disab. 

Concord,  N.  H.,  April  28,  '63. 
"    "        must.  March  12,  '64;  must,  out  July 

17,  '65. 
"    "        must.  Nov.  27,  '61;  dis.  for  disab. 
<     New  York  city,  Oct.  17,  '62  ;  dead. 
"    "        must.   Nov.  27',  '61 ;  dis.  for  disab. 

Dec.  30,  '62. 
"    "        must.  Nov.  27,  '61  ;  dis.  for  disab. 

Newbern,  N.  C,  June  2,  '62. 
"      I,      must.  Feb.  4,  '64 ;  w.  May  12,  '64  ; 

Av.  July  3,  '64 ;    transf.  to  V.  R. 

Corps;  must,  out  Aug.  21,  '65. 
"     E,      must.  Aug.  11,  '63;  must,  out  May 

12,  '65. 
"      I,      must.  Dec.  3,  '63  ;  pro.  corp. ;  captd. 

Poplar  Grove  Church,  Va.,   Sept. 

30,  '64 ;  paroled ;  must,  out  May 

23,  '65. 
must.  Nov.  27,  '61  ;  w.  July  30,  '64  ; 

must,  out  Nov.  29,  '64. 
must.  Nov.  27,  '61  ;  missing  at  Bull 

Run,  Va.,  Aug.  29,  '62  ;  regained  ; 

dis.   for  disab.  Philadelphia,  Pa., 

March  16,  '63;  dead, 
must.  Nov.  27,  '61  ;  missing  at  Bull 

Run,  Va.,  Aug.  29,  '62  ;  regained  ; 

deserted  Annapolis,  Md.,  Nov.  25, 

'62. 
must.  Nov.   27,  '61 ;   dis.  for  disab. 

Roanoke  IsL,  N.  C,  June  24,  '62. 
must.  Nov.  28,  '61  ;  d.  of  disease  De 

Camp.    gen.  hospital,  N.  Y.,  Dec. 

11,  '62. 
must.   March  20,  '65 ;    transf.  from 

Co.  CON.  H.  V.  June  1,  '65; 

absent  sick  July  17,  '65. 
I,      must.    March  12,  '64;  transf.  to  V. 

Res.  Corps    March   1,   '65;  must. 

out  July  29,  '65. 


C, 


H, 


C, 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


269 


Thomas  Hartnett, 
Zephaniah  Henninger, 

Samuel  S.  Hodgdon, 
William  Keefe, 
Joel  A.  Leighton, 

Edmund  E.  Lovering, 
Albert  F.  Marsh, 
Morris  Reardon, 

Josiah  B.  Robinson, 
Pascal  L.  Robinson, 

Joseph  Rock, 
William  Ryan, 

George  H.  Smith, 

Jared  P.  Smith, 
Merrick  M.  Smith, 

George  W.  Stevens, 
Patrick  W.  Sullivan, 


Geoi'ge  W.  Swain, 


Co.  C,      must.  Nov.  27,  '61  ;  deserted  Lexing- 
ton, Ky.,  April  7,  '63. 
"    F,      must.  Dec.  7,  '63 ;  transf.  from  Co. 

F  9  N.  H.  V.  June  1,  '65 ;  must. 

out  July  17,  '65. 
"     C,      must.  Nov.  27,  '61 ;  dis.  for  disab. 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,  July  28,  '63. 
"    "        must.  Nov.  27,  '61 ;  deserted  New- 
port News,  Va.,  Aug.  2,  '62. 
"    "        must.  Nov.  27,  '61  ;    sergt.;  dis.  for 

disab.    Fairfax  Sem'y,    Va.,    Oct. 

14,  '62 ;  dead. 
"    "        must.    Nov.    27,    '61  ;    transf.    Inv. 

Corps  May  1,  '64. 
"    "        must.  Nov.  27,  '61  ;  d.  Hatteras  Isl., 

N.  C,  Jan.  31,  '62. 
"    "        must.    Nov.  27,  '61  ;  dis.  for  disab. 

Washington,  D.  C,  Jan.  11,  '63; 

dead. 
"    "        must.  Nov.  27,  '61 ;  d.  Roanoke  Isl., 

N.  C,  June  20,  '62. 
"    A,      must.   March  21,  '65;  transf.    from 

Co.  A  11  N.  H.  V.  June  4,  '65; 

pro.  Corp.  July  1,  '65;  must,  out 

July  17,  '65. 
"     C,      must.   Nov.  27,  '61  ;  dis.  for  disab. 

Newbern,  N.  C,  June  26,  '62. 
"    "        must.  Nov.  27,  '61  ;  missing  at  Bull 

Run,  Va.,  Aug.  29,  '62  ;  regained; 

deserted  while  on  furlough  Jan.  9, 

'63. 
"    "        must.  Nov.  27,  '61  ;  re-enl.  Jan  3,  '64  ; 

Corp.  ;   pro.  sergt. ;  captd.  Poplar 

Grove  Church,  Va.,  Sept.  30,  '64  ; 

paroled ;  must,  out  May  26,  '65. 
"    "        must.  Aug.  3,  '64  ;  must,  out  June  4, 

'65. 
"    "        must.  Nov.  27,  '61  ;  re-enl.  Dec.  27, 

'63;   w.  July  30,  '64;  pro.    sergt. 

July    1,   '65;    must,   out  July  17, 

'65. 
"    "        must.  Nov.  27,  '61  ;  d.  Nicholasville, 

Ky.,  Sept.  4,  '63. 
"    '*         must.   Nov.   27,  '61  ;    dis.  for  disab. 

Washington,  D.  C,  June  26,  '62. 
"    "        must.    Nov.   27,  '61 ;  dis.  for  disab. 

Newbern,   N.    C,   June   24,    '62; 

dead. 


270 

Joshua  W.  Weeks,  Jr., 

Stephen  White, 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Co.  C,  must.  Nov.  27,  '61 ;  deserted  New- 
port News,  Va.,  July  12,  '62. 

"  "  must.  Dec.  26,  '63  ;  deserted  while 
on  furlough  in  N.  H.  Feb.  10,  '65. 

THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT. 

must.  Dec.  5,  '63 ;  sup.  to  have  de- 
serted en  route  for  regiment. 
Co.    F,      must.  Feb.  28,  '64  ;  pro.  corp. ;  pro. 
sergt.  Dec.  29,  '64 ;  must,  out  July 
20,  '65. 

THE    EIGHTH    REGIMENT. 

Oren  M.  Head,  adjutant,  mustered  December  1,  1861  ;  honorably  dis- 
charged March  19,  1864. 

George  S.  Cobbs,  2d  lieutenant,  mustered  December  20,  1861 ;  sergeant  of 
Company  B  ;  promoted  to  2d  lieutenant  December  16,  1863  ;  killed  in  action 
near  Alexandria,  La.,  May  14,  1864. 


John  Morris, 
Samuel  P.  Sargent, 


Sewall  A.  Abbott, 
John  H.  Carpenter, 
Timothy  Coakley, 

Charles  H.  Davis, 
John  Dyer,  Jr., 
George  Gilman, 
Charles  E.  Hale, 
Daniel  P.  Hartnett, 

Ira  Healey, 

Samuel  H.  Henderson, 


Co.  B,      must.  Dec.  20,  '61 ;    dis.  for   disab. 

New  Orleans,  La.,  May  2,  '63. 
"    D,      must.   Dec.    20,    '61 ;  d.   of    disease 

Camp  Parapet,  La.,  Nov.  9,  '62. 
"    B,      must.  Dec.  20,  '61  ;  transf.  Vet.  Res. 

Corps  July  2,  '63  ;  must,  out  Dec. 

19,  '64  ;  dead. 
"    "        must.  Dec.  J26, '61 ;  deserted  Cheney- 

ville,  La.,  March  19,  '64. 
"    "        must.  Dec.  20,  '61  ;  must,  out  Jan. 

18,  '65. 
"    D,      must.   Dec.    31,    '61 ;  deserted  New 

Orleans,  La.,  Nov.  8,  '62. 
"     A,      must.  Oct.  20,  '61 ;  musician  ;  re-enl. 

Jan.  4,  '64. 
"    B,      must.  Dec.  20,  '61  ;  w.  June  14,  '63 ; 

pro.  Corp.  Aug.  1,  '63  ;  re-enl.  Jan. 

4,  '64 ;  transf.  Co.  B  Vet.  Bat.  8 

N.  H.  V.  Jan.  1,  '65. 
«    "        must.  Dec.    20,  '61 ;   dis.  for  disab. 

New   Orleans,  La.,  Oct.  27,  '64; 

dead. 
"     I,      must.  Jan.  4,  '64  ;  captd.  Sabine  Cross 

Road,  La.,  April  8,  '64 ;  released ; 

transf.  Co.  C  Vet.  Bat.  8  N.  H.  V. 

Jan.  1,  '65. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


271 


David  G.  Kelley, 
Michael  Melvin, 

Henry  L.  Ruggles, 
Jonathan  Tebbetts, 
George  E.  Thyng, 
James  G.  Tilton, 

Woodbury  C.  White, 


Co.  B,      must.  Dec.  20,  '61 ;  pro.  sergt. ;  re- 

enl.  Jan.  4,  '64  ;  dead. 
"     D,      must.  Dec.  20,  '61  ;   re-enl.  Jan.  4, 

'64  ;  transf.  Co.  B  Vet.  Bat.  8  N.  H. 

V.  Jan.  1,  '65. 
"    K,      must.  Aug.  11,   '64;    transf.  Co.  B, 

Vet.  Bat.  8  N.  H.  V.  Jan.  1,  '65. 
"     B,      must.  Dec,  20,  '61  ;   dis.  for    disab. 

CarroUton,  La.,  July  5,  '62 ;  dead. 
"    "        must.  Dec.   20,  '61  ;    dis.  for  disab. 

Ft.  Indep.  Boston,  Feb.  14,  '62. 
"    "        must.  Dec.  20,  '61 ;  pro.  corp.  July 

6,  '62 ;  re-enl.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  transf. 

Co.  B  Vet.  Bat.  8  N.  H.  V.  Jan.  1, 

'65. 
"    "        must.   Dec.    20,  '61 ;    d.   of  disease 

Ship  Island,  Miss.,  May  2,  '62. 


THE    NINTH    REGIMENT. 

Chester  C.  Stevens,  captain  of  Company  D,  mustered  August  10,  1862 ; 
resigned  December  25,  1862. 

Charles  J.  Simons,  1st  lieutenant,  mustered  July  3,  1862;  sergeant  of 
Company  A  ;  wounded  July  30,  1864  ;  promoted  to  2d  lieutenant  November 
1,  1864;  i^romoted  to  1st  lieutenant  February  1,  1865;  mustered  out  June 
10,  1865. 


Alfred  A.  Avery, 
Charles  W.  Batchelder, 
Francis  M.  Caldwell, 

Leonard  H.  Caldwell, 

John  K.  Carswell, 

George  D.  Clay, 
Patrick  Crean, 
Jeremiah  F.  Dearborn, 


Co.  D,      must.   July  26,  '62 ;  d.   Paris,   Ky., 

Oct.  19,  '63. 
"    "        must.  July  26,  '62  ;  corp. ;  must,  out 

June  10,  '65. 
"    A,      must.  July  3,  '62  ;  corp. ;  pro.  sergt.; 

transf.  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps  Feb.  28, 

'63  ;  must,  out  July  1,  '65. 
"    "        must.  July  3,  '62  ;  1st  sergt. ;  w.  sev. 

Dec.  16,  '62 ;  dis.  for  disab.  April 

18,  '63. 
"    D,      must.  July  26,  '62;   transf.  to  Vet. 

Res.  Corps  Feb.  28, '  63;  must,  out 

July  5,  '65  ;  dead. 
"    A,      must.  March  20,  '65  ;  must,  out  May 

6,  'Go. 
"    D,      must.  July  26,  '62 ;  must,  out  June 

10,  '65. 
"    "        must.  July  26,  '62  ;  must,  out  June 

10,  '65. 


272 

John  Edwards, 

David  Floyd, 
Franklin  H.  Foster, 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


Moses  D.  French, 


John  G.  C.  Fuller, 


William  Gleason, 


Thomas  Goodwin, 


Paul  Gordon, 


Zephaniah  Heninger, 


Co.  H, 

"    B, 
"    A, 


"    c, 


James  Hicks, 

<< 

H, 

James  Hughes, 

(( 

B, 

Philander  Keyes, 

(( 

D, 

John  Lord, 

it 

A, 

James  J.  Miller. 

a 

H, 

John  Morris, 

Ephriara  McCusic, 

(( 

A, 

James  O'Brien, 

(( 

U 

Patrick  Reynolds, 

It 

U 

Joseph  S.  Powell, 

a 

E, 

must.  Dec.  10,  '63  ;  captd.  Spottsyl- 

vania,   Va.,  March   12,  '64;  d.  of 

disease,  Andersonville,  Ga.,  Sept. 

11,  '64;  grave  8426. 
must.  Dec.  7,  '63  ;  deserted  Harper's 

Ferry,  Va.,  April  4,  '64. 
must.   July  3,  '62  ;  pro.  sergt.;  pro. 

sergt.  major  March  1,  '63;  captd. 

Petersburg,  Va.,  July  30,  '64  ;  d.  of 

disease  Salisbury,  N.  C,  Dec.  14, 

'61. 
must.  July  26,  '62 ;    dis.  for  disab. 

Oct.  17,  '62. 
must.  March  20,  '65 ;  transf.  to  6  N. 

H.  V.  June  1,  '65. 
must.  Dec.  8,  '63 ;  supposed  to  have 

deserted  en  route  to  regiment, 
must.  July  26,  '62  ;  corp. ;  deserted 

Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17,  '62. 
must.   Dec.  8,  '63 ;    deserted  Hall's 

Gap,  Ky.,  June  28,  '64. 
must.   Dec.    7,    '63 ;     captd.   Poplar 

Grove  Church,  Va.,  Sept.  30,  '64 ; 

ret.  to  duty  May  5,  '65  ;  transf.  to 

6N.  H.  V.  June  1,  '65. 
must.  June  14,  '64  ;  deserted  Peters- 

Inirg,  Va.,  July  14,  '64. 
must.   Dec.    7,  '63 ;    deserted  Stone 

Bridge,  Ivy.,  Jan.  2,  '64. 
must.    July   26,    '62 ;    wagoner ;    d. 

Milldale,  Miss.,  July  30,  '63. 
must.  July   3,    '62 ;    dis.    for   disab. 

March  15,  '63. 
must.  Dec.  5,  '63  ;  k.  in  action  July 

30,  '64. 
must.  Dec.  5,  '63  ;  sup.  to  have  de- 
serted en  route  to  regiment, 
must.  July  3,  '62  ;  corp. ;  captd.  Pe- 
tersburg, Va.,  July  27,  '64 ;  d.-  of 

disease  Danville,  Va.,  Feb.  7,  '65. 
must.  July  12,  '62  ;  deserted  Concord, 

N.  H.,  Aug.  24,  '64. 
must.  July  3,  '62 ;  missing  in  action 

May  12,  '64. 
must.  May  15,  '62;  w.  Dec.  13,  '62; 

dis.  for  disab.  Washington,  D.  C, 

Feb.  17,  '63. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


273 


William  Ryan, 
Andrew  J.  Sanborn, 
Christopher  Staples, 
George  W.  Tanner, 
Seth  Tanner, 
Eugene  Thurston, 
Joseph  B.  Wadleigh, 
John  E.  G.  Weeks, 
Henry  Wood, 


must.  Dec.  7,  '63 ;  sup.  to  have  de- 
serted en  route  to  regiment. 
Co.  D,       must.  July  26,  '62  ;  sergt. ;  k.  Spott- 
sylvania,  Va.,  May  12,  '64. 

"    "         must.  July  26,  '62 ;  must,  out  June 
10,  '65. 

"    A,       must.  July  26,  '62 ;  must,  out  June 
10,  '6o. 

"    "        must.  July  26,  '62;    dis.  for  disab. 
Dec.  15,  '62. 

"    D,      must.  July  26,  '62;  Corp.;  deserted 
Camp  Denison,  O.,  Dec.  7,  '63. 

"    A,       must.  July  3,  '62  ;  pro.  sergt. ;  d.  of 
disease  Feb.  2,  '64. 

"    D,       must.  July  26,  '62;  transf.  to  Vet. 
Res.  Corps  May  8,  '64  ;  dead. 

"    "         must.  July  26,  '62;  deserted  Balti- 
more, Md.,  April  29,  '63. 

THE    ELEVENTH    REGIMENT. 


Moses  N.  Collins,  lieutenant  colonel,  mustered  August  6,  1862;  major; 
promoted  to  lieutenant  colonel  September  9,  1862  ;  killed  in  action  May  6, 
1864. 

John  K.  Cilley,  1st  lieutenant,  mustered  September  1,  1862;  1st  lieu- 
tenant Company  I ;  mustered  out  April  30,  1864,  to  accept  appointment  of 
captain  and  A.  Q.  master  in  the  regular  army. 


John  J.  D.  Barker, 
John  W.  Gilman, 
Thomas  Heritage, 
Henry  Howard, 
James  Keith, 
Charles  H.  Nealey, 
Richard  D.  Nealey, 

George  H.  Reynolds, 

Pascal  L.  Robinson, 
18 


Co.  I,      must.  Sept.  2, '62  ;  d.  of  disease  June 

28,  '63. 
"    "        must.    Sept.   2,  '62;    d.    of   disease 

Petersburg,  Va.,  Sept.  27,  '64. 
"  K,      must.  July  26,  '64;  d.  of  disease  on 

transport  Oct.  13,  '64. 
must.    July    21,    '64;    sup.   to   have 

deserted  en  route  to  regiment, 
must.  July   27,   '64 ;    sup.   to  have 

deserted  en  route  to  regiment. 
Co.  I,      must.  Sept.  2,  '62  ;  must,  out  May  17, 

'65. 
"    "         must.  Sept.  2,  '62  ;  sergt. ;  w.  Dec.  13, 

'62 ;  d.  of  wds.  Washington,  D.  C, 

Jan.  5,  '63. 
"    "         must.  Sept  2,  '62  ;  must,  out  June  4, 

"     A,       must.  March  21,  '65 ;  transf.  to  6  N. 
H.  V.  June  1,  '65. 


274 

Moses  H.  Stickney, 

Josiah  W.  Taylor, 
William  P.  Tilton, 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Co.  I,  must.  Sept.  2,  '62 ;  k.  in  action  Pe- 
tersburg, Va.,  July  30,  '64. 

"  "  must.  Sept.  2,  '62  ;  pro.  sergt.  major 
Sept.  2,  '62 ;  av.  sev.  May  6,  '64 ; 
d.  of  disease  March  18,  'Go. 

"  "  must.  Sept.  2,  '62;  transf.  to  brig, 
band  Nov.  1,  '63 ;  must,  out  June 
4,  '65. 


Henry  Allen, 
John  Anderson, 
Alexander  Brown, 
George  Brown, 
Melvin  Elwood, 
Charles  Frederic, 
Peter  W.  Gardener, 
Samuel  Grant, 
William  Green, 
Louis  Limbold, 
James  Mclntee, 
Frank  Malleck, 
Louis  Miller, 
John  Mori, 
Patrick  Riley, 
George  Stuman, 
Samuel  F.  Turner, 


THE    TWELFTH    REGIMENT. 

must.   Dec.    11,   '63;    sup.   to  have 
deserted  en  route  to  regiment. 
Co.  D,      must.  Dec.  11,  '63;  deserted  York- 
town,  Va.,  April  12,  '64. 
"    G,      must.  Dec.  11,  '63;  transf.  to  U.  S. 

Navy  April  29,  '64. 
"    D,      must.  Dec.  11,  '63;  k.  Cold  Harbor, 

Va.,  June  3,  '64. 
"    H,      must.  Dec.   8,   '63  ;  deserted  White 

House,  Va.,  May  31,  '64. 
"     I,      must.  Dec.  11,  '63;  k.  Cold  Harbor, 

Va.,  June  3,  '64. 
"    A,      must.  Dec.  8,  '63  ;  transf.  to  2  N.  H. 
Vols.  June  21,  '65. 
must.   Dec.   11,    '63;    sup.   to   have 

deserted  en  rovte  to  regiment, 
must.   Dec.    11,    '63;    sup.    to    have 

deserted  en  route  to  regiment. 
must.   Dec.    11,   '63;    sup.   to   have 
deserted  en  route  to  regiment. 
Co.  A.      must.  Dec.  8,  '63  ;  transf.  to  2  N.  H. 
Vols.  June  21,  '65. 
"    I,      must.  Dec.  11,  '63;  transf.  to  U.  S. 

Navy  April  29,  '64. 
"    I,      must.  Dec.  8,  '63 ;  k.  Cold  Harbor, 
Va.,  June  3,  '64. 
must.  Dec.  11,  '63  ;  transf.  to  2  N.  H. 

Vols.  June  21,  '65. 
must.   Dec.    8,   '63 ;    sup.   to    have 
deserted  en  route  to  regiment. 
Co.  D,      must.  Dec.  11,  '63;  w.  June   3,  '64; 
dis,  for  disab.  May  17,  '65. 
"    E,      must.  Dec.   12,  '63  ;  transf.  to  U.  S. 
Navy  April  29,  '64. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

THE    THIRTEENTH    REGIMENT. 


275 


John  Sullivan,  Jr.,  assistant  surgeon,  mustered  Sept.  16,  1862 ;  assistant 
surgeon;  honorably  discharged  August  16,  1864. 

George  N.  Julian,  captain,  mustered  September  27,  1862  ;  captain  of 
Company  E  ;  mustered  out  January  31,  1865. 


Job  C.  Allard, 

Frederick  Bearse, 
John  C.  Brown, 
Alanson  Cram, 
Newton  Cram, 
Jesse  L.  Dolloff, 

James  W.  Folsom, 
George  E.  Garland, 
Alfred  J.  Oilman, 
E-ufus  Lamson, 
Howard  M.  Moses, 
George  H.  Rollins, 
Frederic  W.  Sawyer, 

George  H.  Vanduzee, 
John  C.  Vanduzee, 

William  West, 
Lowell  H.  Young, 


Co.  E,      must.   Sept.  19,  '62  ;  w.  si.  June  1, 

'64  ;  pro.  corp.  Feb.  13,  '63  ;  w.  si. 

Sept.  30,  '64 ;  must,  out  June  21, 

'65;  dead. 
"    "        must.  Sept.  19,  '62;  corp.  ;  transf.  to 

U.  S.  Navy  April  26,  '64 ;  dead. 
"    "        must.  Sept.  19,  '62;  wagoner;  d.  of 

disease  Exeter  Jan.  19,  '65. 
"    "        must.  Sept.  19,  '62  ;  must,  out  June 

10,  '65. 
"    "        must.    Sept.  19,    '62 ;  corp.  ;  transf. 

to  U.  S.  Navy  April  26,  '64. 
"    "        must.  Sept.  19,  '62 ;  pro.  corp.  Aug. 

26,  '62;  pro.  sergt.  March  1,  '65  ; 

must,  out  June  21,  '65. 
"    "        must.  Sept.  19,  '62  ;  must,  out  June 

21,  '65. 
"    "        must.  Sept.  19,  '62;  pro.  corp.  May 

1,  '65  ;  must,  out  June  21,  '65. 
"    "        must.  Sept.  19,  '62  ;  must,  out  June 

21,  '65. 
"    "        must.  Sept.  19,  '62 ;  must,  out  June, 

21,  '65. 
"    "        must.  Sept.  19,  '62 ;  must,  out  June 

21,  '65. 
"    "        must.  Sept.  19,  '62;  transf.  to  Vet. 

Res.  Corps  Sept.  30,  '63. 
"    "        must.  Sept.  19,  '62  ;  dis.  for   disab. 

Philadelphia,    Pa.,   Dec.    14,    '63; 

dead. 
"    "        must.  Sept.  19,   '62 ;  sergt.;  k.  Cold 

Harbor,  Va.,  June  1,  '64. 
"    "        must.  Sept.  19,  '62;  pro.  corp.;  dis. 

for   disab.   Point   of  Rocks,   Va., 

Jan.  27, '65 ;  dead. 
"    "        must.  Sept.  19, '62  ;  corp.;  must,  out 

June  21,  '65. 
"    "        must.  Sept.  19,  '62 ;  w.  si.  June   15, 
'64  ;  must,  out  June  21,  '65. 


27G 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


THE    FIFTEENTH    REGIMENT. 


Joseph  E.  Janvrin,  assistant  surgeon,  mustered  October  28,  1862  ;  assist- 
ant surgeon;  mustered  out  August  13,  1863. 


George  W.  Batchelder, 

William  H.  B.  Brigham, 

Frederic  W.  Carter, 

Gideon  Carter, 
George  W.  Gadd, 

John  W.  Morse, 

"William  Xudd, 

George  A.  Prescott, 

John  A.  Sinclair, 

John  T.  Sinclair, 
Jeremiah  W.  Smith, 

John  A.  Smith, 
George  R.  Thurston, 
James  S.  Tuttle, 


Co.    I,      must.  Oct.  22,  '62 ;  must,  out  Aug, 

13,  '63 ;  dead. 
"    "        must.  Oct.  22,  '62  ;  must,  out  Aug. 

13,  '63. 
"    "        must.  Oct.  22,  '62  ;  must,  out  Aug. 

13,  '63.         ' 
must.  Oct.  22,  '62  ;  d.  of  disease, 
must.  Oct.  22,  '62 ;  must,  out  Aug. 

13,  '63. 
must.  Oct.  22,  '62  ;  must,   out  Aug. 

13,  '63  ;  dead, 
must.    Oct.    22,    '62;    d.    of  disease 

Exeter  Aug.  9,  '63. 
must.  Oct.    28,    '62;  deserted   Con- 
cord ;  retd.  ^larch  14,  '63  ;  must. 

out  Aug.  13,  '63. 
must.  Oct.  22,  '62 ;  must,  out  Aug. 

13,  '63. 
must.  Oct.  22,  '62  ;  discharged, 
must.  Oct.  22,  '62  ;  deserted  Concord ; 

retd.  March   14,  '63  ;  w.  :May  27, 

'63  ;  must,  out  Aug.  13,  '63. 
must.  Oct.  22,  '62 ;  must,  out   Aug. 

13,  '63. 
must.  Oct.  22,  '62  ;  must,  out  Aug. 

13,  '63. 
must.  Oct.  28,  '62  ;  deserted  Concord 

Oct.  21,  '62. 


(I      a 


THE    FIRST    REGIMENT    OF    N.    II.    CAVALRY. 


John  Harvey, 
Harrison  Jones, 
John  P.  Weston, 


Troop  H,  must.  July  29,  '64 ;  deserted  Camp 
Stoneman,  I).  C,  Sept.  3,  '64. 

"  "  must.  July  29,  '64  ;  deserted  Camp 
Stoneman,  D.  C,  Aug.  27,  '64. 

"  "  must.  July  29,  '64 ;  deserted  Camp 
Stoneman,  1).  C,  Sept.  5,  '64. 


In  addition  to  the  foregoing  list,  Exeter  sent  into  the  military 
and  naval  service  almost  an  equal  mnnber  of  other  men  whose  posi- 
tions and  history  have  not  been  accurately  noted  and  preserved. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


277 


The  Rev.  Mr.  Nason,  at  the  close  of  each  of  the  years  1861,  1862 
and  1863,  published  the  names  of  all  the  Exeter  men  who  had,  at 
those  dates  respectivel}^  gone  into  the  service,  and  from  those 
names  the  following  list  is  chiefly  taken.  Its  complete  accuracy 
is  not  vouched  for  ;  indeed  it  is  quite  clear  that  it  is  erroneous  in 
its  assignments  to  New  Hampshire  regiments,  if  the  Reports  of 
the  Adjutant  General  of  the  State  are  to  be  depended  upon.  But 
without  doubt  nearly  every  one  of  the  men  named  entered  the 
service  of  the  country  in  some  organization  or  capacity,  though  it 
may  not  be  correctly  given  in  this  statement. 


OTHER    EXETER    MEN    IN    THE    MILITARY    OR    NAVAL    SERVICE.* 


R.  I. 


U. 


Charles  W.  Batchelder, 

William  Bean, 

Charles  Beimett, 

A.  J.  Bowley, 

Eben  S.  Bowley, 

Azel  P.  Brigham, 

Bruce  Brigham, 

Ephraim  Brigham, 

George  H.  Brigham, 

"William  Broderick, 

George  H.  Brown, 

G.  W.  Brown, 

Freeman  Caban, 

W.  EdAvin  Carter, 

James  W.  Chase, 

William  Chase, 

George  W.  Clark, 

William  A.  Clark, 

George  Clough, 

H.  C.  Clough, 

Charles  W.  Colcord, 

Freeman  Comier,  44  X.  Y.;  Colonel. 

Edward  J.  Conner,  17  U.  S.  A.;  Capt. 


9  A. 

6C. 
7  Maine. 
Cavalry. 
4. 
11  Mass. 
11  Mass. 
11  Mass. 
11  Mass. 
S.  Navy. 

14  Mass.  C. 
R.  I.  Cavalry. 

U.  S.  Navy. 

15  1;  dead. 
Mass.  Battery. 

U.  S.  Navy. 

32  Mass. 

12  Mass.  K. 

8H. 

1  Mass.  B. 

8B. 


John  Conner, 
W.  Conner, 
Maurice  Cotter, 
J.  N.  Crummett, 
E.  P.  Cummings, 

Surgeon. 
Albert  O.  Curtis, 
George  Dearborn, 


U.  S.  Navy, 

15. 

9  Mass. 

U.  S.  Navy. 

23  Mass.  Asst. 

13  Mass, 
15  Mass.  Bat. 


1  S. 


J.  F.  Dearborn,  9  A. 

J.  S.  Deai-born,       Cook's  Mass.  Bat. 
A.  P.  DeRochemont,  2  Mass. 

G.  W.  Dewhurst,   U.  S.  Navy  acting 

master. 
G.  W.  Dewhurst,  Jr 
Hem-y  Dewhurst, 
John  E.  Dodge, 
J.  Donovan, 
Samuel  Dow. 
Daniel  V.  Durgin, 
William  E.  Durgin, 
Ira  E.  Early, 
Horace  Ellison, 
John  Farnham, 
C.  E.  Folsom, 
Charles  H.  Folsom, 

Q.  M. 
James  W.  Folsom, 
Joseph  Folsom, 
Charles  H.  Foss, 
George  W.  Fuller, 
J.  F.  Furnald, 
George  W.  Gale,  Jr., 

Asst.  Surg. 
James  H.  Garland, 
George  Gill, 
Isaiah  W.  GiU,   U. 

master. 
Nathaniel  Gill, 
Gardiner  Gilman, 


Carolina. 

Clerk. 

22  Mass. 

8B. 


12  Maine  B. 

8. 

5  Mass. 

5  Mass. 

17  Mass. 

Clerk;  U.  S. 

11. 
13. 

8  A. 

13  E. 

4. 

U.  S.  Navy ; 

14  Mass.  F. 

R.  I.  Cavalry. 

Navy   acting 

11  Mass. 
45  Mass. 


*The  figures  refer  to  New  Hampshire  Regiments,  unless  a  different  State  is  indi- 
cated. 


278 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


Sewall  Goodwin,  U.  S.  Navy. 
John  Gordon,        55  Mass.;  Captain. 

Charles  Greenleaf,  15  Mass. 

Daniel  D.  Haines,  8  B. 

J.  H.  Hartnett,  2  E. 

Michael  Hartnett,  U.  S.  Navy. 

D.  C.  Harris,  8. 
S.  C.  Hervey,  14  Mass.  B  ;  Lieut. 
William  B.  Hill,  17  Mass.  F ;  Lieut. 

J.  H.  Huse,  2  E. 

James  Irving,  1  Mass.  B. 

George  W.  Kimball,  U.  S.  Navy. 

James  Kimball,  U.  S.  Navy. 

James  Kincaid,  U.  S.  Navy. 

Augustus  J.  Leavitt,  29  Mass. 

Charles  H.  Leavitt,  29  Mass.  K. 

John  Ward  Leavitt,  5  Mass. 

John  Leavitt,  9  E. 

Joseph  W.  Leavitt,  5  Mass. 

Patrick  Little,  9  A. 

Thomas  McEnery,  3. 

Daniel  INIcNary,  U.  S.  Navy. 

D.  F.  McNeal,  19  Mass. 

A.  Merrill,  12  Mass.  E. 
John  Munjoy,  U.  S.  Navy, 
James  Murphy,  8  B. 
Paul  F.  Nason,  A.  A.  G.  Ai-til.  Brig. 

5  Corps. 

C.  P.  H.  Nason,  Clerk. 

Charles  H.  Nealey,  111. 

B.  Nealey,  U.  S.  Navy. 


Norris, 


15. 
U.  S.  Navy. 


John  O'Brien, 
G.  G.  Odiorne,  16Ind.;  Asst.  Surgeon. 
J.  C.  Payson,  13  D. 

T.  K.  Payson,  U.  S.  Navy. 

Asa  E.  Perkins,  40  N.  Y. 

Valentine  A.  Pickering,  2  Mass.  Bat. 
George  W.  Robinson,       28  Mass.  I. 


Henry  S.  P.  Rollins, 
Charles  W.  Rogers, 
Charles  Rowe, 
Frank  G.  Rundlett, 
A.  J.  Sanborn, 


U.  S.  Navy. 
U.  S.  Navy. 

3D. 
U.  S.  Navy. 

9  A. 


Charles  Sleeper, 

U. 

S.  Navy. 

William  H.  Sleeper, 

3B. 

Charles  Smith. 

J.  R.  Smith, 

44  Mass. 

Stacy, 

U. 

S.  Navy. 

C.  H.  Staples, 

u. 

S.  Navy. 

Charles  W.  Stevens,  Ky.  Pay.  Dept. 

David  Stickney,  8  D. 

Daniel  W.  Stone,  U.  S.  Navy. 

W.  C.  Swasey,  12  Mass.  K. 

William  E.  Swasey,  U.  S.  Navy. 

James  M.  Tappan,  8  A. 

L.  F.  Tebbetts,  2  B. 

J.  I.  Tebbetts,  U.  S.  Navy. 
Warren  V.  B.  Tebbetts,  17  Mass.  F. 

Eugene  Thurston,  9  A. 

Charles  J.  Towle,  U.  S.  Navy. 
Henry  Veasey. 

Wheelock  G.  Veasey,  16  Vt.;  Colonel. 

G.  A.  W.  Vinal,  6  ]\Iass.  K. 
George  A.  Wadleigh,    3  Mass.  Cav.; 

Lieutenant. 

James  P.  Wadleigh,  9  A. 

W.  Wainwright,  U.  S.  Navy. 

OrinP.  Waldo,  11. 

Henry  Walker,  8  G. 

William  H.  Walton,  3. 

Edward  Warren,  U.  S.  Navy. 

Freeman  Wallace,  U.  S.  Navy. 

H.  Weeks,  6  E. 

Henry  A.  Weeks,  26  Mass.  A. 

J.  E.  G.  Weeks,  9  A. 

Nathaniel  Weeks,  2d,  U.  S.  Navy. 

John  S.  Weeks,  Inv.  Corps. 
W.  Whitehouse, 

Alfred  Willey,  17  U.  S.  A. 
Charles  Willey. 

Edwin  Willey,  13  Mass.  B. 

George  Willey,  U.  S.  Navy. 

James  Willey,  12  Mass. 

Henry  Wood,  9  A. 

W.  Wyman,  4. 

J.  R.  Young,  8  B. 


It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  no  complete  and  authentic  account 
of  the  services  and  sufferings,  or  even  of  the  names,  of  the  resi- 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  279 

dents  of  Exeter  who  perilled  their  lives  in  their  country's  cause, 
has  been  kept.  This  should  no  longer  be.  Late  as  it  is,  and 
difficult  as  it  may  now  be  to  compile  such  an  account,  the  town 
owes  it  to  the  memory  of  the  heroic  dead  to  ascertain  the  exact 
part  taken  by  every  one  of  its  citizens  in  aiding  to  preserve  the 
integrity  of  the  Union,  to  be  inscribed  upon  permanent  record,  for 
the  information  of  present  and  future  generations.  Exeter  has 
yet  no  memorial  of  her  soldiers  ;  such  a  history  would  be  a  tribute 
more  appropriate  than  any  monument  of  marble  or  bronze  and 
equally  enduring. 

A  few  brief  biographical  notices  of  some  of  the  more  prominent 
officers  will  properly  close  tliis  chapter  of  Exeter  history. 

General  Oilman  Marston  was  born  in  Orford,  New  Hampshire, 
of  which  town  his  grandfather,  a  captain  in  the  old  French  war, 
was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  from  Hampton.  His  early  life  was 
passed  on  a  farm,  and  he  paid  the  expenses  of  his  own  education 
by  school  keeping,  graduating  from  Dartmouth  College  in  1837. 
He  studied  law,  and  in  1841  came,  an  entire  stranger,  to  Exeter. 
In  a  sliort  time,  his  diligence,  attention  to  business  and  personal 
interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  clients,  secured  him  a  valuable  practice. 
In  1845  he  took  his  first  step  in  political  life  as  a  representative  in 
the  State  Legislature,  and  was  twice  re-elected,  and  appointed  a 
delegate  to  the  Constitutional  Convention  in  1850.  In  1859  he 
was  chosen  a  representative  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States, 
and  re-elected  in  1861.  Being  in  Washington  in  the  anxious 
period  that  followed  the  inauguration  of  President  Lincoln,  he 
joined  the  battalion  commanded  by  Cassius  M.  Clay  for  the  de- 
fence of  the  national  capital,  and  as  soon  as  the  exigency  there 
had  passed,  returned  to  New  Hampshire  and  tendered  his  services 
to  the  State  Executive. 

He  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  Second  Regiment,  originally 
enlisted  for  three  months  only,  but  its  term  of  service  then  ex- 
tended to  three  years.  One  month  from  its  arrival  in  Washing- 
ton it  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  where  the  colonel  was 
severely  wounded  by  a  bullet  which  shattered  his  right  arm  near 
the  shoulder.  The  surgeons  would  have  amputated  it,  to  save  his 
life,  but,  by  reason  of  the  colonel's  resolute  refusal,  it  was  saved, 
to  become  about  as  serviceable  as  the  other.  He  soon  returned 
to  his  regiment,  and  was  in  command  of  it  at  Williamsburg,  at 
Fair  Oaks,  during  the  seven  days'  battles  before  Richmond,  at 


280  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Malvern  Hill,  and  at  Fredericksburg.  In  the  winter  of  1862-3, 
while  active  operations  were  suspended,  he  returned  to  his  seat  in 
Congress. 

He  was  appointed  brigadier  general  in  the  fall  of  1862,  but  did 
not  accept  the  appointment  till  April,  1863,  when  he  was  put  in 
charge  of  a  large  camp  of  confederate  prisoners,  in  Maryland,  in 
command  of  his  own  and  two  other  New  Hampshire  regiments.  A 
year  later,  the  command  of  a  brigade  of  New  York  troops  in  the 
Eighteenth  Corps  was  given  him,  and  he  took  part  in  the  assault 
on  Drury's  Bluff.  Thence  his  command  was  ordered  to  Cold 
Harbor,  and  in  the  memorable  conflict  there  his  brigade  in  one-half 
hour  lost  five  hundred  men.  Subsequently,  he  participated  in  the 
assault  on  the  works  at  Petersburg  ;  and  then  was  directed  by 
General  Grant  to  take  charge  of  several  posts  on  the  James,  where 
he  remained  until  autumn,  but,  being  attacked  by  chills  and  fever, 
from  his  long  exposure  in  that  miasmatic  region,  he  Avas  obliged 
to  quit  the  army  on  sick  leave.  He  was  again  elected  to  Congress 
in  the  succeeding  March,  and  after  the  fall  of  Richmond  resigned 
his  commission  of  general. 

General  Marston's  military  services  are  matter  of  history.  Per- 
haps no  higher  commendation  could  be  given  him  than  that  paid 
by  a  field  officer  of  his  old  command.  The  Second  Regiment,  as 
is  well  known,  made  a  distinguished  record  in  the  war.  Major 
Cooper,  in  his  report  to  the  adjutant  general,  wrote  thus  of  its 
first  commander:  "Whatever  name  or  fame  the  regiment  may 
possess,  it  is  indebted  for  almost  wholly  to  the  untiring  zeal  and 
effort  of  Colonel,  now  General  Gilman  Marston." 

After  the  expiration  of  his  third  congressional  term.  General 
Marston  returned  to  Exeter  and  resumed  his  law  practice.  Neither 
his  political  nor  his  military  service  had  lessened  his  zeal  or  his 
industry  in  his  profession,  and  he  has  ever  since  had  all  the  busi- 
ness that  he  cared  for.  Few  of  the  principal  causes  arising  in  his 
section  have  been  tried  without  his  assistance,  and  he  has  often 
been  summoned  to  other  parts  of  the  State  to  conduct  important 
suits. 

The  people  of  Exeter  have  manifested  their  confidence  in  his 
ability  and  usefulness  as  a  law  maker  by  continuing  him  for  an 
unprecedented  length  of  time  as  a  representative  in  the  State 
Legislature,  where  his  position  and  experience  have  given  him  an 
influence  second  to  that  of  no  other  member. 

In  1882  Dartmouth  College  conferred  upon  General  Marston 
the  honorary  degree  of  LL.  U. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  281 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Henry  H.  Pearson  was  born  in  Newport, 
Illinois,  February  26,  1840.  By  his  own  exertions  he  determined 
to  obtain  an  education,  and  with  that  view  came  to  P^xeter  and 
entered  the  Phillips  Academy.  He  was  a  faithful  student,  and  a 
great  reader  of  books,  especially  of  history  and  biography.  Upon 
the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion  he  was  fired  with  military  and 
patriotic  ardor,  and  proceeded,  a  part  of  the  way  on  foot,  to 
Washington,  where  he  joined  a  military  company  and  took  part  in 
the  battle  of  Bull  Run.  He  then  returned  to  Exeter,  and  was 
commissioned  by  the  governor  captain  in  the  Sixth  New  Hamp- 
shire Regiment.  In  order  to  procure  recruits,  he  appointed  war 
meetings  in  the  towns  adjacent  to  Exeter,  at  which  he  addressed 
the  people  with  great  effect,  and  thus  he  enlisted  his  company. 
The  people  of  Exeter,  in  recognition  of  his  patriotic  services,  pre- 
sented him  with  a  handsome  sword  and  other  substantial  tokens  of 
their  regard. 

In  April,  1862,  he  commanded  his  company  in  the  action  at 
Camden,  North  Carolina,  and  in  August,  at  the  second  battle  of 
Bull  Run,  and  wrote  accounts  of  both,  which  showed  superior 
military  capacity.  The  next  year  he  distinguished  himself  in  the 
engagements  at  Chantilly,  South  Mountain  and  Fredericksburg, 
and,  later,  at  Vicksburg  and  Jackson,  Mississippi.  And  when,  in 
December,  1863,  the  regiment  re-enlisted,  he  received  the  merited 
appointment  of  lieutenant  colonel.  In  the  great  campaign  of 
C4rant  in  Virginia,  he  led  his  men  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness 
with  judgment  and  ability.  On  the  twent^'-sixth  of  May,  1864,  at 
North  Anna  river,  while  reconnoitring  the  enemy  through  his 
field  glass,  he  received  the  bullet  of  a  sharp-shooter  in  the  fore- 
head which  deprived  him  of  life,  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-three. 

He  was  beloved  by  his  men  for  his  attention  to  their  wants,  and 
for  his  coolness  and  courage  and  ability.  Few  volunteer  officers 
were  better  equipped  than  he  with  the  knowledge  and  qualities  re- 
quired to  make  a  successful  commander.  His  brother  officers 
respected  and  admired  him,  and  his  death  was  sincerely  lamented 
by  all  who  knew  him. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Moses  N.  Collins  was  born  in  Brentwood, 
in  April,  1820.  He  received  a  thorough  academic  education,  and 
for  several  years  was  employed  in  teaching  in  the  State  of  Mary- 
land. He  then  returned  to  New  Hampshire  to  prepare  himself 
for  the  practice  of  the  law,  and  completed  his  studies  in  Exeter  in 
the  office  of  General  Oilman  Marstou,  whose  partner  he  became. 


282  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

He  was  elected  to  the  State  Legislature  from  his  native  town  in 
1860,  and  from  Exeter  in  1861  and  1862.  In  the  latter  year  he 
received  the  appointment  of  major,  and  subsequent!}',  of  lieutenant 
colonel  of  the  Eleventh  New  Hampshire  Regiment,  then  forming. 
After  arriving  at  the  seat  of  war,  the  regiment  had  not  long  to 
wait  before  receiving  their  "baptism  of  fire."  At  Fredericksburg 
they  joined  in  the  bloody,  unavailing  assault  upon  Marye's  Heights, 
and  were,  for  two  hours,  exposed  to  a  tremendous  cannonade,  and 
lost  heavily. 

In  1863  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg, 
and  afterwards  bore  their  part  of  the  hardships  and  sufferings  of 
Burnside's  army  in  Knoxville.  At  this  time  Lieutenant  Colonel 
ColUus  was  in  command,  in  the  absence  of  the  colonel.  In  the 
spring  of  1864  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  rejoin  the  army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  was  engaged  in  the  terrible  conflicts  of  Grant's 
advance  upon  Richmond.  In  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  on 
May  6,  1864,  the  Eleventh  was  under  fire  nearly  all  the  day. 
In  an  advance  against  the  enemy.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Collins 
received  his  death  wound,  being  shot  directly  through  the  head. 

He  was  a  man  of  much  resolution  and  force  of  character,  and 
had  established  a  high  reputation  as  a  lawyer  of  skill  and  ability. 
His  death  was  a  public  loss. 

Captain  Albert  M.  Perkins  was  a  native  of  Exeter,  and  at  the 
time  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  was  about  eighteen  years  of 
age.  He  had  received  a  good  academic  education  and  was  bright, 
active  and  popular.  He  was  of  an  adventurous  spirit,  and  loyal 
to  the  core,  and  entered  into  the  contest  with  enthusiasm.  His 
first  position  was  that  of  orderly  sergeant,  from  which  he  was  pro- 
moted through  several  grades  to  the  office  of  captain,  earning 
every  step  by  his  courage  and  good  conduct.  He  not  only  never 
shrank  from  any  exposure,  but  set  an  example  to  his  men  of 
boldness  and  enterprise  on  all  critical  occasions. 

It  was  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  the  turning  point  of  the  w^ar, 
that  he  received  the  wound  which  occasioned  the  loss  of  his  arm, 
and  eventually  was  the  cause  of  his  untimely  death.  He  lived  to 
witness  the  triumphant  close  of  the  great  conflict,  but  not  long 
afterward.  His  life  was  short,  but  it  comprised  more  daring  and 
sacrifice  than  most  lives  of  threescore  years  and  ten. 


EDUCATIONAL. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 
THE  SCHOOLS  AND  ACADEMIES. 

The  first  settlers  of  Exeter  were  too  intelligent  not  to  realize 
the  importance  of  furnishing  proper  instruction  to  their  children, 
nor  did  they  make  their  home  in  the  remote  region  of  the  Squam- 
scot  without  providing  a  suitable  teacher  for  them.  Philemon 
Pormort,  one  of  their  number,  was  an  experienced  sclioolmaster. 
He  had  taught  the  3'outh  of  Boston  acceptably,  and,  no  doubt,  as 
long  as  he  remained  in  Exeter,  exercised  his  calling  there.  His 
stay  was  about  five  years.  Before  he  departed,  another  person 
Avell  qualified  to  be  his  successor  had  come  to  settle  in  the  town  : 
John  Legat.  He  had  taught  a  school  in  Hampton,  and  presum-- 
ably  filled  the  same  useful  station  in  P^xeter.  He  lived  in  the 
place  up  to  the  year  1652,  at  least.  The  records  of  the  town 
contain  no  information  in  regard  to  the  earliest  schools,  as  they 
were  probably  maintained,  not  at  the  public  charge,  but  by  the 
parents  of  the  children  who  attended  them.  Nor  for  many  years 
after  towns  were  made  by  law  responsible  for  the  maintenance  of 
schools,  do  the  records  refer  to  the  subject.  "We  learn,  however, 
that  in  1(569  John  Barsham,  who  had  been  employed  elsewhere  as 
a  teacher  of  the  young,  was  living  in  Exeter,  and  it  is  natural  to 
suppose  that  he  was  one  of  the  line  of  schoolmasters. 

About  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century  the  colony  of 
Massachusetts  passed  a  law  that  every  town  of  fifty  families  should 
maintain  a  schoolmaster  capable  of  teaching  children  to  read  and 
write,  and  every  town  of  one  hundred  families  should  set  up  a 
grammar  school,  provided  with  a  teacher  qualified  to  prepare  boys 
to  enter  the  univei'sity,  that  is.  Harvard  College.  And  this  law, 
in  substance,  was  continued  in  force  in  the  province  of  New 
Hampshire  after  its  separation  from  Massachusetts. 

For  two  generations  or  more,  the  limited  population  of  Exeter 
required  the  maintenance  of  elementary  schools  only,  and  had  not 
reached  the  number  of  families  which  obliged  the  town  to  support 

285 


286  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

a  grammar  and  classical  teacher.  But  somewhere  near  the  begin- 
ning of  the  last  century  the  increase  of  inhabitants  had  probably 
made  it  necessary  to  provide  facilities  for  the  higher  grade  of  in- 
struction. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  in  April,  1703,  a  vote  was  passed 
that  the  selectmen  should  hire  a  schoolmaster  for  a  year,  "to 
keep  school  three  months  in  the  old  meeting-house,  and  the  rest  of 
the  year  at  their  discretion." 

The  next  year  the  town  voted  to  sell  the  old  meeting-house,  and 
"to  build  a  school-house  at  the  town's  charge,  and  set  it  below 
Jonathan  Thing's  house  next  the  river." 

In  1706  the  rather  indeterminate  vote  was  passed,  that  "the 
town  would  have  a  schoolmaster  hired." 

No  school- house  had  been  built  in  the  spring  of  1707,  for  the 
town  then  resolved : 

That  the  school-house  be  built  on  the  land  the  town  bought  of 
Mr.  Coffin  by  the  new  meeting-house,  forthwith  ;  to  be  thirty  feet 
in  length,  twenty  feet  in  breadth  and  eight  feet  stud. 

.  There  is  no  reason  to  doubt  that  this  order  was  carried  out ; 
and  we  may  therefore  picture  to  ourselves  this  first  building  erected 
purposely  for  a  school-house  in  Exeter,  standing  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  way  from  the  meeting-house,  in  dimensions  one-half 
larger  than  the  earliest  known  house  of  worship  in  the  town.  It 
was  intended  for  the  grammar  or  Latin  school,  without  doubt. 
The  records  show  that  schools  of  less  pretensions  were  also  kept 
for  longer  or  shorter  terms  in  the  more  distant  parts  of  the  town. 

LIST    OF    EARLY    INSTRUCTORS. 

"We  do  not  learn  who  filled  the  important  station  of  head  of  the 
grammar  school  before  the  year  1714,  but  from  that  date  the 
account  books  of  the  selectmen  give  the  names  of  the  successive 
masters,  with  few  interruptions,  to  the  close  of  the  century.  It 
will  be  observed  that  they  wei-e  generally  college  graduates.  The 
following  is  the  list,  which  includes  also  the  names  of  such  teachers 
of  other  schools  as  are  given. 

Jonathan  Pierpont  (Harvard  College  1714),  1714  and  1715 
Nicholas  Terryman*  and  Enoch  Coffin  (H.  C.  1714),  1716. 


♦  Mr.  I'errynian  was  a  native  of  England,  and  a  man  of  excellent  education.    He  became  a 
lawyer  uiui  practised  in  Exeter. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  287 

Nicholas  Penyman,  1717,  1718. 

Joseph  Parsons  (H.  C.  1720)  and  Robert  Hale  (H.  C.  1721),  1720,  1721. 

Robert  Hale  and  John  Graham,  1722. 

Ward  Clark  (H.  C.  1723),  1723,  1724. 

Benjamin  Choate  (H.  C.  1703  ?),  1729. 

EHsha  Odlin  (H.  C.  1731),  1730. 

Nicholas  Oilman,  Jr.  (H.  C.  1724),  1731,  1732. 

Cartee  Oilman,  1732. 

Peter  Coffin  (H.  C.  1733)  and  WiUiam  Graves,  1733. 

Elisha  Odlin,  1734. 

Meshech  Weare  (H.  C.  1735),  1735. 

Cartee  Oilman  (on  north  side  of  river)  and  Edward  Barnard  (H.  C.  1736), 
1736. 

Peter  Coffin,  1736. 

Maverick  Oilman's  -wife  (at  Deer  Hill),  Cartee  Oilman  (on  south  side), 
1737. 

Nicholas  Oilman,  Jr.,  and  Edward  Barnard,  1737. 

Elisha  Odlin,  1738. 

John  Creighton  (on  Deer  Hill  road),  Abigail  Conner  (at  Mast  swamp), 
1739. 

Woodbridge  Odlin  (H.  C.  1738),  1739,  1740. 

John  Creighton  (on  Deer  Hill  road),  1740. 

Joel  Judkins's  wife  (on  white  pine  plain),  Elisha  Odlin  (at  Deer  Hill), 
1741. 

Woodbridge  Odlin,  1741,  1742. 

Jonathan  Glidden  (at  TuckaAvay),  1742. 

Mr.  (John)  Phillips  (H.  C.  1735),  1742,  1743. 

Elisha  Odlin,  1743. 

John  Creighton,  1744. 

John  Chandler  (H.  C.  1743)  and  Nehemiah  Porter  (H.  C.  1745),  1745. 

Nathaniel  Oilman  (H.  C.  1746),  1746. 

Nathaniel  Oilman  and  John  Creighton,  1747. 

Stephen  Emery  (H.  C.  1730?)  and  Nathaniel  Oilman,  1748,  1749. 

Cartee  Oilman,  Samuel  Brooks  (H.  C.  1749)  and  John  Creighton,  1749, 
1750. 

Ebenezer  Adams  (H.  C.  1747)  and  John  White  (H.  C.  1751),  1751,  1752. 

John  Feveryear  (H.  C.  1751),  John  White  and  Samuel  Brooks,  1753. 

William  Parker  (H.  C.  1751)  and  Samuel  Brooks,  1755. 

Samuel  Brooks,  1756,  1757,  1758. 

Joseph  Pearson  (H.  C.  1758),  1760,  1761,  1762,  1763,  1764,  1765. 

Tristram  Oilman  (H.  C.  1757),  1761. 

Moses  Badger  (H.  C.  1761),  Dr.  Joseph  Tilton,  Theophilus  Smith,  Jr, 
(H.  C.  1761),  1767,  1768,  1769,  1770. 

Joseph  Pearson,  1770,  1771. 

Philip  Babson,  1772. 


288  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Joseph  Peai-son,  Abraham  Perkins,  Joseph  Cummings  (H.  C.  1768),  1772, 
1773. 
John  Frothingham  (H.  C.  1771),  1773. 
Thomas  Burnham  (H.  C.  1772),  1773,  1774. 
Isaac  Sherman  (Y.  C.  1770),  1774. 
Joseph  Pearson,  William  Fogg  (H.  C.  1774),  1778. 
Dudley  Ocllin  (H.  C.  1777),  1779. 

Nathaniel  Healy  (H.  C.  1777),  Dudley  Odlin,  William  Fogg,  1780. 
Dudley  Odlin,  1781. 

Dudley  Odlin,  William  Fogg,  Nathaniel  Parker  (IJ.  C.  1779),  1782. 
Joseph  Lamson  (H.  C.  1741  ?),  William  Fogg,  1783. 
Andrew  Hinman,  William  Fogg,  1784. 
^  Andrew  Hinman,  Joseph  Lamson,  John  Morrison,  1785. 
Leonard  Whiting,  John  Morrison,  178(3. 

Rev.  Isaac  Mansfield  (11.  C.  1767),  Jonathan  Fifield  Sleeper  (D.  C.  1786), 
Ephraim  Robinson,  Jr.,  William  Peabody,  1789. 
Isaac  Mansfield,  1790. 
Caleb  Robinson,  Jonathan  F.  Sleeper,  1792. 

TOAVN    ORDERS    CONCERNING    SCHOOLS. 

It  may  be  of  interest  to  give  a  brief  synopsis  of  the  action  of 
the  town,  from  time  to  time,  in  respect  to  their  schools,  in  the  last 
century. 

In  1728  the  town  ordered  that  "the  school  shall  be  kept  five 
months  in  the  school-house,  four  months  at  Pickpocket  and  three 
months  at  Ass  brook." 

This  yearly  division  of  the  instruction,  so  that  the  children  of 
each  section  of  the  town  might  enjoy  their  equitable  proportion  of 
its  advantages,  was  kept  up  for  a  considerable  time. 

In  1734  it  was  wisely  determined  that  the  school  be  kept  the 
ensuing  year  in  the  school-house  or  in  the  town-house,  "which  the 
schoolmaster  should  think  best." 

In  1739  the  following  vote  was  adopted : 

That  there  be  £120  raised  by  the  selectmen  to  be  improved  in 
schooling  in  manner  following :  the  proportion  of  money  raised 
within  the  limits  hereafter  mentioned  be  improved  in  keeping 
school  in  the  town-house  or  school-house  ;  that  end  of  the  town 
called  Ass  brook  to  belong  to  the  town  school  and  the  road  that 
leads  to  Newmarket,  and  Pickpocket  road  as  far  as  Richard 
York's,  and  the  road  to  Philip  Wadleigh's,  and  all  the  people  that 
live  thereabout ;  all  the  people  in  those  limits  to  be  accounted  to 
the  town  school,  and  the  remaining  part  of  the  town  to  have  their 
proportion  of  money  to  be  improved  in  schooling. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  289 

In  the  year  1742  the  appropriation  for  schools  had  been  in- 
creased to  one  hundred  and  forty  pounds,  and  the  selectmen  were 
instructed  "to  hire  a  standing  school  in  the  town  for  the  year 
ensuing  ;  and  that  the  several  branches  of  the  town  have  their 
share  of  the  money  allowed  to  them  in  proportion  to  what  they 
pay  ;  and  in  case  the  £140  voted  be  not  sufficient  therefor,  that 
they  be  empowered  to  raise  a  sufficiency." 

In  1747  the  arrangement  for  schools  adopted  by  the  town  was 
as  follows  : 

Voted,  That  the  selectmen  raise  so  much  money  for  the  school 
as  that  the  i)art  paid  by  the  inhabitants  between  Capt.  John 
Oilman's  on  Tuclvaway  road  and  the  little  river  on  Kingston  road, 
and  on  the  neck  road  and  so  farther  as  to  take  in  Major  Ezekiel 
Gilman  on  Newmarket  road  and  Peter  Folsom  on  Hampton  road, 
shall  be  sufficient  to  keep  a  Latin  school,  and  that  the  money  that 
the  other  parts  pay  shall  be  for  keeping  school  as  they  shall  agree 
on. 

Ou  the  twenty-eighth  of  April,  1755,  at  a  meeting  of  the  town 
it  was  voted  that  the  selectmen  "  have  liberty  to  part  off  a  con- 
venient part  of  the  town-house  and  build  a  chimney  in  it  so  that 
th3  town  be  at  no  cost  for  the  same,  but  at  the  cost  of  private 
persons,  and  be  for  the  use  of  the  school." 

In  1768  the  town  gave  the  selectmen  authority  to  get  the  old 
town  bell  recast  into  a  bell  for  the  use  of  the  school ;  but  as  the 
people  who  lived  outside  its  sound  were  to  get  no  benefit  from  it, 
it  was  considerately  added  that  the  outskirts  of  the  town  were  to 
be  at  no  cost  for  it. 

FORMATION    OF    SCHOOL    DISTRICTS. 

In  the  year  1805  a  law  was  enacted  by  the  Legislature  of  New 
Hampshire,  providing  for  the  separation  of  towns  into  districts 
for  the  purpose  of  maintaining  schools.  In  conformity  thereto 
the  town  appointed  a  committee  to  examine,  and  recommend  a 
proper  partition,  and  in  1807  voted  to  divide  the  town  into  six 
districts,  as  reported  by  the  committee.  From  that  time,  for 
three-quarters  of  a  century,  the  duty  of  providing  instructors  for 
the  public  schools  was  taken  from  the  selectmen,  and  imposed  upon 
the  officers  of  the  several  districts.  This  law  has  since  been 
changed,  without  disturbance  to  the  school  system  of  the  town. 

It  would  be  impracticable  to  furnish  a  list  of  all  the  teachers, 
even  if  it  were  desirable.     Among  those,  however,  who  have  enti- 

19 


290  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

tied  themselves  by  long  and  faithful  service  to  particular  remem- 
brance, may  be  mentioned  the  Rev.  Ferdinand  Ellis,  and  his  t-o'o 
daughters,  Charlotte  and  Ehoda,  Benjamin  B.  Thompson,  a  vet- 
eran instructor,  and  Sperry  French,  who  has  for  above  a  quarter 
of  a  century  had  the  charge  of  a  capital  grammar  school. 

The  superintending  school  committees  appointed  by  the  town 
have  ordinarily  been  gentlemen  of  education,  interested  in  the 
subject,  and  cheerfully  giving  much  ill  compensated  labor  to  the 
object  of  improving  the  means  of  instruction.  Their  efforts  and 
recommendations  have  contributed  greatly  to  bring  the  system  of 
schools  up  to  its  present  state  of  efficiency.  Several  of  their 
reports  have  been  models  of  the  art  of  enforcing  sound  sense  by 
pleasantry.  Those  of  the  late  Professor  Joseph  G.  Hoyt  were  as 
full  of  wit  as  of  wisdom. 

The  present  school  board  consists  of  Messrs.  John  D.  Lyman, 
John  A.  Brown  and  George  W.  Weston. 

Of  the  various  changes  in  the  State  laws  which  experience  has 
dictated,  for  the  promotion  of  popular  education,  that  which  pro- 
vided for  the  grading  of  schools  was  one  of  the  most  important,  and 
was  adopted  in  the  town  in  the  year  1847.  A  High  school  was 
established,  in  district  No.  1,  to  which  pupils  from  the  other 
districts  were  admissible,  and  the  grammar  and  primary  schools 
were  kept  distinct.  A  handsome  house  for  the  High  school  was 
erected  near  the  old  town-house,  on  Court  street. 

The  High  school  has  had  for  its  principal  teachers  the  following 
persons  :  Elbridge  G.  Dalton  (A.  M.,  Dart.  Coll.  1855)  from  1848 
to  1853  inclusive  ;  Joseph  Eastman  (Dart.  Coll.  1850)  for  1854  ; 
Nathan  F.  Carter  (Dart.  Coll.  1853)  from  1855  to  1863  ;  Orlando 
M.  Fernald  (Harv.  Coll.  18G4)  for  1864  ;  Lewis  F.  Dupee  for 
1866  and  1867  ;  John  T.  Gibson  (Dart.  Coll.  1864)  from  1867  to 
1869,  and  for  1871  and  1872  ;  Frederic  A.  Fogg  (Bowd.  Coll. 
1869)  and  Martin  H.  Fisk  (Dart.  Coll.  1852)  for  1870  ;  Albion 
Burbank  (Bowd.  Coll.  1862)  from  1872  to  the  present  time. 

The  High  and  the  grammar  schools  have  always  maintained  an 
excellent  standing,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  for  the  last 
twenty  years  their  pupils  have  been  exclusively  boys.  This  was 
the  result  of  the  establishment  of  the  Robinson  Female  Seminary, 
which  was  open  to  all  the  girls  above  the  age  of  nine  years,  and 
qualified  for  admission  to  the  grammar  schools.  The  fears  of 
some  advocates  of  the  co-edacation  of  the  sexes,  that  this  separa- 
tion would  work  injury  to  both,  have  thus  far  not  been  realized- 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  291 

lu  additiou  to  the  schools  described,  the  town  has  also  one  sub- 
grammar  school,  two  intermediate,  five  primary,  and  three  un- 
graded schools.  The  whole  number  of  pupils  is  four  hundred  and 
ninety-four.  The  school  board  highly  commend  the  schools,  but 
strongly  recommend  that  some  of  them  should  be  better  housed. 

THE    ROBINSON    FEMALE    SEMINARY. 

William  Robinson,  a  native  of  Exeter,  left  the  town  after  reach- 
ing his  majority,  to  seek  his  fortune  elsewhere.  In  this  he  was 
highly  successful,  and  at  his  death  in  Augusta,  Georgia,  where  he 
had  resided  for  many  years,  he  left  a  large  property.  After 
making,  by  his  will,  a  handsome  provision  for  his  widow  and  rel- 
atives, he  appointed  the  town  of  Exeter  his  residuary  legatee,  iu 
trust,  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  female  seminary  in  which 
"  the  course  of  instruction  should  be  such  as  would  tend  to  make 
female  scholars  equal  to  all  the  practical  duties  of  life ;  such  a 
course  of  education  as  would  enable  them  to  compete,  and  suc- 
cessfully, too,  with  their  brothers  throughout  the  world,  when  they 
take  their  part  in  the  actual  duties  of  life."  In  admitting  appli- 
cants to  the  advantages  of  the  seminary  he  directed  that,  "all 
other  things  being  equal,  the  preference  should  always  be  given  to 
the  poor  and  the  orphan."  There  is  little  doubt  that  Mr.  Robin- 
son, iu  making  this  disposition,  had  in  mind  the  academy  in  his 
native  town  founded  by  Dr.  John  Phillips,  for  the  education  of 
boys,  and  intended  to  make  this  a  companion  institution  for  the 
other  sex. 

His  death  occurred  during  the  civil  war,  which  delayed  for  a 
time  the  announcement  to  the  town  of  the  contents  of  his  will,  but 
in  the  spring  of  1865  the  tidings  were  received.  The  town  voted 
to  accept  the  bequest,  and  appointed  agents  to  receive  it.  The 
amount  realized  was  about  a  quarter  of  a  million  of  dollars. 

A  plan  for  the  establishment  and  regulation  of  the  seminary  was 
carefully  elaborated  by  a  committee,  and  adopted  by  the  town, 
and  received  the  sanction  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State.  It 
provided  for  a  board  of  trustees  to  whom  the  government  of  the 
institution  was  committed,  to  consist  of  seven  citizens,  to  be 
elected  by  the  town,  one  each  year,  and  to  serve  for  the  term  of 
seven  years.  Any  girl  resident  in  the  town  who  had  reached  the 
age  of  nine  years,  and  was  qualified  for  the  grammar  school,  was 
entitled  to  enter  the  seminary,  and  enjoy  its  instruction  without 
the  payment  of  tuition. 


202  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

In  order  that  there  should  be  no  delay  in  affording  the  benefits 
of  the  gift  to  all,  a  school  was  opened  in  1867  in  the  old  town  hall 
for  girls,  answering  the  above  requirement,  and  experienced 
teachers  were  employed.  It  was  also  determined  to  procure  at 
once  a  suitable  lot  of  land,  and  to  erect  a  building  for  the  seminary 
thereon.  This  was  not  accomplished  without  some  difference  of 
opinion  which  produced  delay  ;  but  on  the  fourth  day  of  July, 
1868,  the  corner-stone  of  the  seminary  building  was  laid  on  a 
commanding  part  of  the  tract  of  land,  of  near  sixteen  acres,  which 
had  been  purchased  in  the  western  part  of  the  village.  In  1869 
the  structure  was  completed,  of  brick,  with  a  granite  basement, 
and  three  stories  in  height. 

The  seminary  went  into  operation  in  September  of  the  same 
year.  Eben  Sperry  Stearns,  a  native  of  Bedford,  Massachusetts, 
and  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College  in  1841,  was  the  first  principal. 
He  remained  in  charge  of  the  institution  until  the  year  1875, 
during  which  time  the  school  was  thoroughly  organized,  and  proved 
to  be  a  success.  Mr.  Stearns  then  accepted  the  offer  of  the  pres- 
idency of  a  normal  college  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  left 
p^xeter.  His  successor  in  charge  of  the  Robinson  Seminary  was 
Miss  Harriet  E.  Paine,  who  discharged  the  duties  for  three  years 
with  acceptance,  and  was  succeeded  b}^  Miss  Annie  M.  Kilham  in 
1878.  She  resigned  the  position  after  five  years  of  faitliful  ser- 
vice, and  George  N.  Cross,  A.  M.,  was  appointed  principal,  who 
has  managed  the  school  with  much  success  to  the  present  time. 

The  course  of  study  is  arranged  to  extend  over  a  period  of  eight 
years,  and  there  is  also  a  course  preparatory  to  admission  to  col- 
lege of  three  years.  As  complete  an  education  can  be  obtained  at 
the  seminary  as  at  almost  any  other  institution  of  the  kind  in  the 
country.  Of  course,  the  great  majority  of  the  pupils  do  not  com- 
plete the  course  ;  out  of  an  attendance  of  from  one  hundred  and  fifty 
to  one  hundred  and  seventy-five,  the  number  of  graduates  averages 
yearly  about  ten  only.  But  far  the  larger  number  of  the  pupils 
remain  long  enough  to  acquire  an  education  which  renders  them 
"equal  to  all  the  practical  duties  of  life,"  and  are  undoubtedly 
great  gainers  by  the  means  of  instruction  which  the  liberality  of 
the  founder  of  the  seminary  has  placed  within  their  reach. 

Most  of  the  students  of  the  Robinson  Seminary  belong  to 
Exeter,  though  non-residents  may  be  admitted  upon  the  pajanent 
of  a  small  tuition,  and  a  few  such  are  always  in  the  school. 

The  corps  of  instructors  at  the  present  time  are  these : 


HISTOIIY  OF  EXETER.  293 

George  N.  Cross,  A.  M.,  Principal,  Natural  Sciences  and  Elocution. 

Adeline  A.  Knight,  Latin  and  Greek. 

Martha  F.  Rice,  B.  L.,  Higher  Mathematics,  English  and  Composition. 

Lucy  Bell,  Drawing,  Painting  and  Art  Study. 

Oscar  Faulhaber,  Ph.  D.,  French  and  German. 

Eliza  C.  Lufkin,  Language,  History,  Physiology  and  Reading. 

Georgie  W.  Shute,  English  Grammar,  Geography  and  Natural  History. 

Maria  L.  Grouard,  Arithmetic,  Algebra  and  United  States  History. 

Cecilia  F.  Gustine,  Vocal  Music. 

Bessie  P.  Ordway,  Assistant  in  the  Laboratory. 

The  present  board  of  trustees  consists  of  the  following  residents  : 

Charles  G.  Conner,  Henry  C.  Moses,  George  N.  Proctor,  William  Bur- 
lingame,  Edwin  G.  Eastman,  George  W.  Furnald  and  Charles  H.  Gerrish. 

THE    PHILLIPS    EXETEU    ACADEMY. 

John  Phillips  was  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Phillips  of  Andover, 
Massachusetts,  and  was  born  there  December  27,  1719.  Under 
his  father's  tuition  he  prepared  himself  to  enter  Harvard  College 
at  the  age  of  twelve  years,  and  graduated  in  1735.  For  a  while 
afterwards  he  was  employed  in  teaching,  at  the  same  time  study- 
ing medicine  and  divinity.  He  was  admitted  to  the  ministry  but 
was  never  settled  over  a  parish.  In  1741  he  came  to  Exeter,  and 
there  made  his  permanent  home,  at  first  as  teacher  of  a  Latin 
school ;  but  afterwards  engaged  in  trade,  which  he  found  very 
profitable. 

As  he  advanced  in  years  and  increased  in  wealth,  he  was  more 
and  more  impressed  with  the  desire  of  employing  his  property  for 
benevolent  and  charitable  uses.  He  contributed  liberally  to  the 
funds  of  the  infant  Dartmouth  College,  and  joined  with  his 
brother  Samuel  in  founding  the  Phillips  Academy  in  Andover, 
Massachusetts. 

But  his  special  project  was  to  establish  an  educational  insti- 
tution in  his  own  town  of  Exeter.  This  he  wisely  accomplished 
in  his  lifetime,  and  enjoyed  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  it  char- 
tered, organized  and  in  successful  operation  before  his  death. 
The  Phillips  Exeter  Academy  was  formally  opened  on  the  first 
day  of  May,  1783.  Dr.  Phillips  endowed  it  by  gift  and  devise 
with  property  to  the  amount  of  about  sixty  thousand  dollars  ;  far 
the  greatest  sum  that  had  at  that  time  been  devoted  to  such  an 
enterprise  in  the  country.  He  drew  up  with  anxious  care  a  con- 
stitution for  the  government  of  the  institution,  nominated  a  board 


294  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

of  trustees  of  whom  he  was  one,  and  naturally  the  president ; 
appointed  the  instructors,  and  for  twelve  years  until  his  death  in 
1795,  virtually  directed  everything  connected  with  the  Academy. 

For  the  first  few  years  the  principal  instructor  was  William 
Woodbridge,  one  of  a  line  of  preachers  and  teachers  ;  but  by 
reason  of  ill  health  he  gave  up  the  position,  and  a  singularly  felic- 
itous appointment  was  made  for  his  successor,  of  Benjamin  Abbot, 
a  native  of  Andover,  Massachusetts,  and  a  graduate  of  Harvard 
College,  in  1788.  He  possessed  rare  qualifications  for  the  place, 
an  amiable  disposition,  sound  scholarship,  the  power  of  command, 
a  high  sense  of  responsibility  and  honor,  and  the  combination  of 
qualities  that  are  implied  in  the  expression  "  a  complete  gentle- 
man." Under  his  efficient  charge  the  academy  soon  acquired 
that  pre-eminence  which  it  still,  after  the  lapse  of  a  century, 
retains. 

Dr.  Abbot  was  most  efficiently  aided  in  his  preceptorial  duties 
by  a  succession  of  able  men  and  accomplished  scholars,  not  a  few 
of  whom  became  afterwards  distinguished  as  presidents  and  pro- 
fessors of  colleges  or  in  the  various  walks  of  professional  life. 
The  names  of  Hosea  Hildreth,  I'rancis  Bowen,  Daniel  Dana, 
Samuel  D.  Parker,  Joseph  S.  Buckminster,  Alexander  H.  Everett, 
Nathaniel  A.  Haven,  Jr.,  Nathan  Lord  and  Henry  Ware,  on  the 
roll  of  instructors,  are  vouchers  that  no  "journey-work"  was 
allowed  to  pass,  among  the  pupils. 

To  the  first  of  these,  Hosea  Hildreth,  the  principal  and  the 
academy  were  especially  indebted.  He  was  educated  for  the  min. 
istry,  and  occupied  the  pulpit  a  considerable  part  of  his  life.  But 
he  had  exceptionally  valuable  qualities  as  a  teacher.  He  was  not 
content  to  guide  his  pupils  in  the  humdrum  style  of  the  old  peda- 
gogues. He  possessed  much  originality  and  humor,  and  strove 
to  rouse  the  pride  and  ambition  of  the  students  so  as  to  bring  out 
the  best  there  was  in  them.  The  formation  of  the  "  Golden 
Branch"  society,  for  the  promotion  of  scholarship  and  literary 
training,  was  due  to  Professor  Hildreth.  For  fourteen  years  he 
devoted  his  best  powers  to  the  work  of  instruction  in  the  acad- 
emy, and  his  influence  was  peculiarly  stimulating  and  elevating. 

Nor  was  the  list  of  Dr.  Abbot's  pupils  less  remarkable,  for  the 
number  of  those  who  subsequently  rose  to  the  highest  rank  in 
scholarship  and  in  literature,  in  political  and  professional  position. 
Among  them  were  Lewis  Cass,  Daniel  Webster,  Joseph  G.  Cogs- 
well, John  G.  Palfrey,  Jared  Sparks,  Edward  Everett,  John  A. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETEE.  295 

Dix,  George  Bancroft,  Richard  Hildreth,  and  many  others  scarcely 
inferior  to  them  in  celebrity. 

Dr.  Abbot,  after  having  ronnded  out  his  half  century  of  useful 
labor,  resigned  the  principalship  in  1838,  on  which  occasion  there 
was  a  great  assemblage  of  his  pupils,  to  do  him  honor. 

His  successor  was  Dr.  Gideon  L.  Soule,  a  native  of  Freeport, 
Maine,  and  a  graduate  of  Bowdoin  College  in  1818.  He  had  been 
a  pupil  of  Dr.  Abbot,  and  afterwards  associated  with  him  as  a 
professor  of  ancient  languages  in  the  academy  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  was  fully  indoctrinated  with  the  views  and  methods  of 
his  old  preceptor,  was  a  thorough  classical  scholar,  and  possessed 
rare  natural  qualities  f6r  the  high  post  to  which  he  was  promoted. 
He  was  of  commanding  presence  and  dignified  manners ;  and 
understood  well  how  to  appeal  to  the  best  instincts  of  his  pupils. 
Like  his  predecessor  he  had  the  gift  of  command,  and  was  a 
thorough  gentleman  in  the  best  sense  of  the  term,  courteous,  high 
minded,  just  and  generous  in  his  treatment  of  all.  He  also  was 
ably  supported  by  the  professors  and  teachers  associated  with  him 
in  his  work.  One  of  the  number,  now  no  more,  was  Professor 
Joseph  G.  Hoyt,  afterwards  appointed  Chancellor  of  the  Washing- 
ton University,  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  In  some  respects  he  was 
the  counterpart  of  his  predecessor.  Professor  Hosea  Hildreth.  He 
had  much  of  the  same  impatience  with  outgrown  methods,  and 
much  of  the  same  power  of  impressing  his  own  personality  upon 
his  associates  and  pupils.  He  was  not  only  not  afraid  of  novel- 
ties, but  courted  them.  He  never  half  supported  a  measure  ;  he 
was  for  it  or  against  it  with  his  whole  might.  The  scheme  of 
allowing  greater  liberty  to  the  students,  and  of  trusting  more  to 
their  own  self-government,  he  supported  with  characteristic 
warmth.  He  was  in  the  board  of  instruction  for  eighteen  years, 
and  few  of  those  connected  with  the  academy  from  the  beginning 
have  left  a  more  marked  impress  upon  its  management  and  char- 
acter than  Professor  Hoyt. 

Although  Dr.  Soule  was  not  one  given  to  innovation,  it  was 
during  his  rule,  and  with  his  assent,  that  a  radical  change  was  in- 
augurated in  discipline  and  methods  in  the  academy.  A  wider 
liberty  was  allowed  to  the  students  ;  they  were  treated  more  like 
men,  and  less  like  children.  They  were  taught  that  in  their  con- 
duct they  were  to  be  governed  by  the  unwritten  code  of  propriety 
and  honor  which  is  recognized  as  the  fundamental  principle  of 
every  moral  and  enlightened  community,  and  not  by  any  set  of 


296  HISTOKY  OF  EXETER. 

written  regulatious.  Instead  of  studying,  as  tlieretofore,  under 
the  eye  of  an  instructor,  tliey  were  permitted  to  prepare  their 
lessons  in  tlieir  own  rooms,  and  only  required  to  assemble  at  the 
academy  for  recitations,  usually  thrice  each  day,  and  for  prayers. 
This  was  a  critical  experiment  to  make,  perhaps,  and  its  success 
depended  greatly  upon  the  disposition  of  the  pupils  to  wisely  use, 
and  not  abuse,  the  greater  freedom  granted  them.  The  reliance 
placed  upon  their  good  sense  and  self-control  was  not  mistaken. 
The  adoption  of  the  new  plan  has  never  been  regretted  ;  and  the 
good  effects  of  it  are  visible  in  the  increase  of  manliness  and  self- 
respect  among  the  great  majority  of  the  students. 

After  Dr.  Soule  had  completed  his  fiftieth  year  of  duty,  as  a 
professor  and  as  principal  of  the  academy,  he  retired  from  active 
employment,  bearing  with  him  the  respect  and  cordial  affection  of 
his  associates  and  of  the  numerous  body  of  pupils  who  had  enjoyed 
the  great  advantage  of  his  instruction  and  his  example. 

The  next  immediate  head  of  the  institution  was  Dr.  Albert  C. 
Perkins,  a  native  of  Byfield,  Massachusetts,  and  a  graduate  of 
Dartmouth  College.  He  occupied  the  post  of  principal  for  about 
ten  years,  when  he  resigned  it  to  accept  the  presidency  of  the  Adel- 
phi  Institute  in  Brooklyn,  New  York. 

For  two  years  after  this  the  duties  of  the  principalship  were 
practically  performed  by  the  two  senior  professors,  George  A. 
Wentworth  and  Bradbury  L.  Cilley,  each  of  Avhom  had  been  con- 
nected with  the  academy  as  a  member  of  the  corps  of  instruction 
for  about  a  quarter  of  a  century.  They  were  active  coadjutors  of 
Dr.  Soule  in  the  "  new  departure"  which  was  begun  in  his  term  of 
office,  and  still  retain  their  positions  in  the  institution. 

Walter  Quincy  Scott,  D.D.,  the  present  principal  of  the  academ}^, 
assumed  the  station  in  1885.  He  is  a  native  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  a 
graduate  of  Lafayette  College  in  1869,  and  had  been  the  president 
of  the  Oliio  State  University  before  his  appointment  to  this 
position. 

In  the  one  hundred  and  five  years  of  its  existence,  the  Phillips 
Exeter  Academy  has,  as  might  be  expected,  made  a  prodigious 
growth,  in  point  of  means,  and  numbers  and  extent  and  character 
of  instruction.  For  the  first  twenty  years  the  average  number  of 
students  was  less  than  forty,  and  at  the  close  of  Dr.  Abbot's  con- 
nection, did  not  exceed  seventy.  It  is  now  nearly  five  times  the 
latter  number.  The  endowment  given  by  the  fouuder,  large  as  it 
Avas  for  the  time,  has  been  increased  almost  tenfold,  in  part  by 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  297 

wise  mauagemeut,  but  chiefly  by  additional  gifts  from  various 
benefactors.  The  average  age  of  the  pupils  has  increased  by  at 
least  two  years  within  the  last  half  century,  and  in  the  extent  and 
thoroughness  of  the  work  accomplished,  the  advance  has  been  fully 
commensurate  with  the  progress  of  the  institution  in  the  other 
respects  mentioned. 

The  original  endowment  of  Dr.  Phillips  has  been  since  supple- 
mented by  various  benefactions. 

John  T.  Oilman  of  Exeter  gave,  in  1794,  two  and  one-quarter 
acres  of  land,  which  constitute  a  great  part  of  the  inclosure  in 
which  the  present  academy  buildings  stand. 

Nicholas  Oilman  of  Exeter  bequeathed,  in  1814,  one  thousand 
dollars,  the  income  to  be  expended  for  instruction  in  sacred  music. 

John  Langdon  Sibley  of  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  began,  in 
1862,  a  series  of  gifts,  amounting  in  all  to  more  than  forty  thousand 
dollars,  the  income  to  be  expended  for  the  support  of  students  of 
poverty  and  merit. 

In  1870  the  academy  building  was  burned  to  the  ground,  and 
subscriptions  were  raised  to  the  amount  of  nearly  fifty  thousand 
dollars  to  replace  it.  The  chief  contributor  was  William  Phillips 
of  Boston,  Massachusetts,  who  gave  ten  thousand  dollars. 

Jeremiah  Kingman  of  Harrington,  in  1873,  bequeathed  the  resi- 
due of  his  estate,  amounting  to  above  thirty-six  thousand  dollars, 
the  income  to  be  appropriated  to  the  support  of  indigent  and  mer- 
itorious students. 

Woodbridge  Odlin  of  Exeter  left  by  his  will,  in  1875,  twenty 
thousand  dollars  to  endow  a  professorship  of  English. 

In  1877  and  1879  a  gentleman,  who  preferred  that  his  name 
should  not  be  known,  made  gifts  to  the  amount  of  ten  thousand 
dollars. 

In  1878  and  1880  Henry  Winkley  of  Philadelphia  made  dona- 
tions amounting  to  ten  thousand  dollars. 

John  C.  Phillips  of  Boston  gave  twenty- five  thousand  dollars 
in  1884. 

Francis  P.  Hurd,  son  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Isaac  Ilurd,  bequeathed, 
the  same  year,  fifty  thousand  dollars. 

Francis  E.  Parker  of  Boston  made  a  residuary  bequest  in  1886, 
which  yielded  about  one  hundred  and  ten  thousand  dollars. 

The  last  five  gifts  were  unrestricted,  and  are  applicable  to  the 
general  purposes  of  the  academy. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  principal  donations,  four  scholar- 
ships have  been  founded,  named  for  the  donors  : 


298  HISTOKY  OF  EXETER. 

Charles   Burroughs,   in  1868,  of  the  value    of    one   thousand 
dollars, 

George  Bancroft,  m  1870,  of  the  value  of  two  thousand  dollars. 
Samuel  Hale,  in  1872,  of  the  value  of  two  thousand  dollars. 
Nathaniel  Gordon,  in  1872,  of  the  value  of  two  thousand  dollars. 

To-day  the  Phillips  Exeter  Academy  has  a  faculty  of  ten  in- 
structors, pupils  to  the  number  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  and 
upwards,  representing  nearly  every  State  and  Territory  in  the 
Union,  and  divided  between  a  classical  and  an  Eno;lish  course  of 
instruction  of  four  years  each ;  property,  including  lands  and 
school  buildings,  to  the  amount  of  nearly  six  hundred  thousand 
dollars  ;  chapel,  recitation  rooms,  dormitory,  gymnasium  and  in 
process  of  construction  a  laboratory,  —  all  fitted  with  the  best 
modern  improvements. 

And  these  advantages  are  not  for  the  rich  alone  ;  they  are 
equally  within  the  reach  of  any  young  man  who  has  the  ability 
and  determination  to  obtain  an  education.  Good  conduct  and 
diligence  are  the  only  requisites.  The  payment  of  tuition  is 
remitted  in  all  cases  where  students  are  in  needy  circumstances, 
and  twenty-four  scholarships  are  annually  distributed  among  the 
pupils,  who  are  applicants,  according  to  proficiency  and  general 
merit.  Four  of  the  scholarships,  the  Bancroft,  Gordon,  Hale  and 
Burroughs,  are  worth  in  money  from  seventy  to  one  hundred  and 
forty  dollars  each.  The  others  —  foundation  scholarships  as  they 
are  termed  —  yield  between  one  and  two  dollars  per  week  during 
the  school  year.  The  rooms  in  Abbot  Hall  are  assigned  to 
students  of  restricted  means,  at  a  trifling  rent,  and  accommodate 
about  fifty.  In  the  same  hall  there  are  commons  for  the  board  of 
a  somewhat  larger  number,  at  simply  the  cost  price.  A  young 
man  who  obtains  a  foundation  scholarship,  therefore,  needs  little 
more  to  defray  his  expenses.  About  one-third  of  the  whole 
number  of  students  receive  free  tuition. 

Tso  distinctions  have  ever  been  made  in  the  academy  by  reason 
of  pecuniar}'  condition.  The  poorest  lad  is  as  free  to  carry  away 
the  honoi's,  and  is  as  much  respected  if  lie  is  deserving  of  respect, 
as  the  millionnoire.  Indeed,  some  of  the  most  venerated  names  on 
the  list  of  alumni  are  those  of  men  who  received  aid  from  the 
foundation,  which  alone  enabled  them  to  accomplish  their  educa- 
tion, and  who  were  proud  in  after  years  to  attribute  their  success 
in  life  thereto. 

The  present  faculty  of  the  Phillips  Academy  is  as  follows : 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  299 

Walter  Quincy  Scott,  D.  D.,  Principal,  and  Odlin  Professor  of  English. 

George  A.  Wentworth,  A.  M.,  Professor  of  Mathematics. 

Bradbury  L.  Ciller,  A.  M.,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages. 

Oscar  Faulhaber,  Ph.  D.,  Professor  of  French  and  German. 

James  A.  Tufts,  A.  B.,  Professor  of  English  in  the  Classical  Department. 

George  L.  Kittredge,  A.  B.,  Professor  of  Latin. 

Clarence  Getchell,  A.  B.,  Instructor  in  Physics  and  Chemistry. 

Carlton  B.  Stetson,  A.  M.,  Listructor  in  Latin  and  English. 

Albertus  T.  Dudley,  A.  B.,  Director  of  the  Gymnasium. 

William  A.  Francis,  A.  M.,  Instructor  in  Mathematics. 

The  board  of  trustees  consists  of  the  following:  George  S. 
Hale,  Boston,  President ;  Charles  H.  Bell ;  Walter  Q.  Scott, 
ex-officio;  Charles  F.  Dunbar,  Cambridge;  John  T.  Perry; 
Francis  O.  French,  New  York  ;  and  there  is  one  vacancy. 

THE    FEMALE    ACADEMY. 

The  Exeter  newspapers  of  the  earlier  part  of  the  century  show 
repeated  advertisements  of  private  schools  for  "  young  misses." 
They  met  with  so  much  patronage  that  it  naturally  occurred  to  the 
people  that  a  permanent  seminary  for  the  instruction  of  females 
would  be  desirable.  In  1826  a  charter  was  obtained  from  the 
State  Legislature,  to  incorporate  the  Exeter  Female  Academy.  It 
went  into  operation  soon  afterwards,  and  the  upper  story  of  the 
building  on  Centre  street,  in  which  was  the  vestry  of  the  First 
church,  was  secured  for  the  accommodation  of  the  school.  The 
first  teacher  is  believed  to  have  been  Miss  Julia  A.  Perry,  who  was 
a  pupil  of  the  celebrated  educator.  Miss  Z.  Grant.  Miss  Perry 
remained  at  the  head  of  the  academy  until  1834,  when  she  was 
succeeded  by  Miss  Elizabeth  Dow,  daughter  of  Jei'emiah  Dow  of 
Exeter.  She  continued  in  charge  of  the  academy  for  two  years, 
it  is  believed.  Her  successor  was  Isaac  Foster,  A.  M.,  a  native 
of  Andover,  Massachusetts,  and  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College, 
in  the  class  of  1828.  He  also  served  two  years,  from  1834  to  the 
spring  of  1836,  when  Miss  Emily  S.  Colcord,  of  South  Berwick, 
jNIaine,  a  lady  who  is  remembered  as  possessed  of  peculiar  qualifi- 
cations for  the  charge  of  such  an  institution,  became  the  principal 
of  the  academy.  Her  term  of  service  extended  over  a  period  of 
seven  years.  Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Chadwick,  a  daughter  of  Colonel 
Peter  Chadwick  of  Exeter,  was  the  next  principal  teacher  for  four 
years,  and  in  the  spring  of  1849  gave  place  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  P. 
Toppau,  daughter  of  the  Hon.  Edmund  Toppan  of  Hampton.     She 


300  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

held  the  position  two  years  at  least.  Miss  Harriet  Russell, 
daughter  of  Dr.  Richard  Russell  of  Somersworth,  is  believed  to 
have  been  the  next  in  the  order  of  preceptresses.  Her  stay  was 
probably  not  longer  than  two  years.  Elbridge  G.  Dalton  was  at 
the  head  of  the  academy  in  1853-4.  At  that  time  he  had  five 
assistants,  and  the  aggregate  number  of  pupils  for  the  year  was 
one  hundred  and  sixty-six.  The  course  of  instruction  extended 
over  a  period  of  five  years,  and  Latin,  modern  languages,  instru- 
mental music,  designing  and  landscape  drawing,  and  other  accom- 
plishments were  taught.  The  trustees  at  that  time  wei'e  the  Rev. 
Isaac  Hurd,  Dr.  David  W.  Gorham,  Hon.  Amos  Tuck  and  Joseph 
Tilton,  Esq.  It  is  supposed  that  Mr.  Dalton  retained  the  direc- 
tion of  the  academy  until  in  1858  he  assumed  the  same  position 
in  the  High  school. 

Miss  Mary  A.  Bell,  daughter  of  the  Hon.  James  Bell  of  Exeter, 
next  had  the  principalship  of  the  Female  Academy,  probably  for 
four  years,  when  she  was  succeeded  by  Miss  Amanda  C.  Morris 
of  Somersworth,  daughter  of  Captain  John  Morris.  John  Foster, 
a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College  in  1858,  was  the  last  principal  of 
the  Female  Academy.  He  had  the  charge  of  it  through  the 
summer  and  autumn  of  1864,  and  then  gave  it  up.  It  was  never 
revived.  The  splendid  gift  of  William  Robinson  for  the  educa- 
tion of  the  girls  of  Exeter  became  known  the  next  spring,  and  the 
Female  Academy  was  superseded. 


CHAPTER  XV. 
THE  PRESS. 

As  there  is  no  more  efficient  educational  agency  than  the  print- 
ing press,  a  chapter  upon  what  it  has  accomplished  in  Exeter 
cannot  be  out  of  place  in  this  division  of  our  histor3\ 

The  first  printer  who  practised  his  art  in  the  town  was  Robert 
Luist  Fowle,  a  nephew  of  that  Daniel  Fowle  who  introduced  print- 
ing in  the  province  at  Portsmouth  in  1756.  The  uncle  and 
nephew  were  partners  there  for  a  time  before  the  latter  came  to 
Exeter,  which  was  apparently  before  1775.  It  is  intimated  that 
a  difference  in  their  political  opinions  was  a  moving  cause  of  their 
separation,  Daniel  favoring  the  views  of  the  "  liberty-bo3^s," 
while  Robert  inclined  towards  the  conservatives.  If  so,  they 
made  a  poor  choice  of  abiding  places,  for  while  there  was  a  strong 
ministerial  party  under  the  wing  of  the  royal  governor  at  Ports- 
mouth, Exeter,  almost  to  a  man,  stood  up  for  the  liberties  of  the 
country. 

Robert  Fowle,  though  a  poor  enough  printer,  is  said  to  have 
done  some  work  for  the  royal  government,  and  afterwards,  in 
1775,  for  the  new  regime.  He  had  enough  of  the  Vicar  of  Bray 
in  his  composition,  to  appear,  at  least,  to  be  true  to  the  ruling 
powers,  whoever  they  might  be. 

THE    EARLIEST    NEWSPAPER. 

In  1776  he  began  to  publish  a  newspaper  in  Exeter,  called  Tlie 
New  Hampshire  Gazette  or  Exeter  Mornitig  Chronicle.  It  was 
sufficiently  patriotic  in  tone,  of  course,  for  nothing  else  would  have 
been  tolerated.  He  was  discreet  enough  to  gain  the  confidence  of 
the  leading  men  in  the  popular  movement,  so  that  he  was  at  length 
employed  in  the  delicate  and  confidential  business  of  printing  the 
bills  of  credit  for  the  State. 

301 


302  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

It  was  not  long  before  counterfeits  were  discovered,  of  these, 
and  of  tlie  similar  paper  currency  of  other  States,  and  suspicion 
arose,  from  various  circumstances,  that  Fowle  was  concerned  in 
issuing  the  spurious  bills.  The  Committee  of  Safety  at  once 
ordered  him  to  be  committed  to  the  jail  in  Exeter.  He  had  the 
effrontery  then  to  propose  to  the  committee  that  in  case  they  would 
screen  him  from  punishment,  he  would  confess  what  he  knew  in 
reference  to  the  offence.  If  he  had  done  this  from  principle,  in 
order  that  justice  might  be  vindicated,  it  would  have  been  pardon- 
able, if  not  commendable,  but  his  subsequent  conduct  forbids  such 
a  construction  of  his  motives.  The  committee  took  him  at  his 
word,  and  he  made  disclosures  of  his  furnishing  the  types  to  one 
or  more  tories,  from  which  to  print  the  fraudulent  paper  money. 
In  return  for  his  revelations  the  authorities  were  to  allow  him  his 
liberty  on  bail.  Whether  it  was  that  no  one  cared  to  be  his  surety 
is  not  known,  but  he  remained  in  jail  untU  he  took  "leg  bail,"  and 
escaped  to  the  British  lines.  Tliis  was  about  the  first  of  August, 
1777.  The  Committee  of  Safety  wrote  to  the  committee  in  Boston 
to  ask  then'  aid  in  arresting  him  ;  but  he  was  beyond  their  reach. 

In  1778  the  Legislature  of  the  State  proscribed  him  with  many 
other  loyalists  who  had  lied,  and  ordered  his  property  confiscated  ; 
but  probably  he  had  little  left  to  confiscate,  if  his  complaint  after- 
wards made  of  the  pillaging  of  his  effects  had  an}'  foundation  in 
fact. 

He  did  not  make  his  appearance  again  in  Exeter  for  a  number 
of  years,  nor  uutil  peace  was  established.  He  was  then  a  pen- 
sioner, as  was  said,  of  the  English  government  as  a  loyalist  who 
had  suft"ered  loss  of  property  for  his  principles.  He  married  the 
widow  of  his  brother  Zechariah  Fowle,  and  apparently  kept  a 
small  shop  for  the  sale  of  English  goods  in  the  town.  An  adver- 
tisement of  his  in  The  American  Herald  of  Liberty^  August  13, 
17D3,  requests  all  indebted  to  him  for  newspapers,  advertisements, 
blanks,  etc.,  in  the  years  1776  and  1777,  to  make  immediate  pay- 
ment ;  and  notifies  those  persons  who  ' '  plundered  him  of  his  print- 
ing office,  books  of  account,  papers,  book-shop,  etc.,  in  1777,  to 
make  satisfaction,  or  they  will  be  called  upon  before  the  Court  of 
the  United  States."  After  living  in  Exeter  a  few  years,  he  re- 
moved to  Brentwood,  and  there  died  in  1802. 

There  is  a  tradition  that  the  "  forms,"  from  which  the  unauthor- 
ized bills  of  credit  were  printed  in  1777,  were  some  years  after- 
wards found,  concealed  under  a  barn.     They  were  probably  some 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  303 

of  those  wliicli  Fowle  acknowledged  that  he  furnished  to  the  tories 
of  the  tune,  who  took  off  impressions  from  them,  to  which  they 
forged  the  signatures.  It  was  one  of  the  methods  of  injuring  and 
discrediting  the  government  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  as  is  well 
known,  to  counterfeit  its  currency. 

Robert  Fowle  kept  up  the  publication  of  his  newspaper  until  his 
arrest  in  1777.  The  number  for  January  7,  in  that  year,  con- 
tained an  account  of  Washington's  victory  at  Trenton,  and  a  notice 
by  Joseph  Stacy,  jail  keeper,  of  the  escape  of  three  prisoners 
"lately  brought  from  New  York  as  enemies  to  American  liberty." 

He  was  succeeded  in  the  printing  business  in  Exeter  by  his 
brother  Zechariah.  The  latter  must  have  had  something  of  an 
establishment,  for  he  continued  to  issue  a  newspaper,  and  in  1780 
put  forth  an  edition  of  the  laws  of  the  State  in  a  folio  volume  of 
one  hundred  and  eighty  pages,  with  various  continuations.  Zech- 
ariah was  an  undoubted  whig,  and  does  not  appear  to  have  lost  the 
confidence  of  his  party  by  the  defection  of  his  brother.  How  long 
he  continued  his  paper  is  uncertain  ;  but  certainly  into  1781,  and 
not  improbably  a  couple  of  years  longer. 

It  had  the  same  title  as  the  paper  contemporaneously  issued  at 
Portsmouth,  The  New  Hampshire  Gazette.  The  Exeter  journal, 
from  the  beginning,  exhibited  no  publisher's  name,  and  was  suffi- 
ciently like  its  Portsmouth  namesake  to  be  mistaken  for  it  except 
for  the  imprint  at  the  bottom  of  the  last  page — "printed  at 
Exeter." 

The  political  tone  of  this  gazette  may  be  gathered  from  one  or 
two  specimens  of  its  contents.  In  the  number  for  May  28,  1781, 
is  this  item  of  military  intelligence  : 

"FisHKiix,  May  17.  A  party  of  ours  under  Colonel  Green 
were  surprised  by  the  enemy  about  sunrise.  Major  Flagg  was 
murdered  in  his  bed  ;  the  colonel  badly  wounded.  They  attempted 
to  carry  him  off,  but  finding  he  could  not  march  so  fast  as  their 
fears  obliged  them,  they  inhumanly  murdered  him.  Blush,  Britain, 
at  the  horrid  relation  ! " 

In  a  subsequent  number,  which  contained  an  account  of  General 
Arnold's  expedition  in  Virginia,  were  these  lines,  which  are  more 
remarkable  for  their  force  than  for  poetical  grace  : 

Oh  Benedict,  thy  name  recorded  shall  stand 

On  shame's  black  roll  and  stink  through  all  the  land, 

In  memory  fixed  so  deep  that  time  in  vain 

Shall  strive  to  wipe  those  records  from  the  brain. 


304  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Zechariah  Fowle  died  near  the  close  of  the  war. 

A  newspaper  is  said  to  have  been  established  in  Exeter  in  June, 
1784,  and  to  have  been  discontinued  in  the  succeeding  December. 
Its  title  was  The  Exeter  Chronicle^  and  its  publishers  were  John 
Melcher  and  George  J.  Osborne.  They  were  inhabitants  of  Ports- 
mouth, but  whether  either  of  them  lived  in  Exeter  while  this  short 
lived  venture  lasted,  is  not  known. 

The  next  printer  who  is  known  to  have  set  up  an  office  in  the 
town  was  Henry  Ranlet.  He  began  business  in  1785,  and  about 
July  in  that  year  commenced  the  publication  of  a  weekly  paper 
called  The  American  Herald  of  Liberty,  vihich.  was  continued  under 
different  names,  and  by  various  publishers  until  1797.  One  remark 
may  be  made  respecting  all  these  early  journals,  that  they  are 
uniformly  destitute  of  local  intelligence,  and  are  usually  made  up 
of  articles  exti'acted  from  other  papers,  of  a  few  political  essays, 
and  of  advertisements,  which  last  are  the  most  interesting  of  all 
their  contents. 

Ranlet  was  a  more  skilful  printer  than  either  of  his  predecessors, 
and  the  list  of  his  publications  is  remarkable  in  number  and  in 
variety.  Besides  his  newspaper  he  printed  many  books,  partly  on 
his  own  account  and  partly  for  publishers  in  Boston  and  Worces- 
ter, Massachusetts,  and  in  Portsmouth.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest 
of  country  printers  to  supply  his  office  with  the  types  for  musical 
characters,  and  issued  as  many  as  ten  or  twelve  volumes  of  collec- 
tions of  vocal  and  instrumental  music.  He  closed  his  industrious 
and  respectable  life  in  1807. 

On  the  principle,  perhaps,  that  "  competition  is  the  soul  of 
business,"  another  printing  office  was  opened  about  the  j^ear  1790 
in  Exeter  by  John  Lamson,  who  had  been  a  partner  of  Ranlet  in 
1787.  Mr.  Lamson  took  for  his  associate  Thomas  Odiorne,  a  son 
of  Dea.  Thomas  Odiorne,  and  a  graduate  from  Dartmouth  College 
in  1791.  He  possessed  literary  taste  and  ability  but  had  no  prac- 
tical acquaintance  with  the  business  of  a  printer.  Their  connec- 
tion was  of  short  duration.  Mr.  Odiorne's  name  appears  alone  in 
the  imprint  of  a  few  volumes,  in  point  of  t3'pography  very  taste- 
fully executed  for  the  time.  He  was  an  author  of  two  or  three 
poetical  works,  one  of  which,  entitled  The  Progress  of  Refinement^ 
was  published  in  Exeter. 

THE    FIRST   NEW    TESTAMENT    PRINTED    IN    THE    STATE. 

In  1794  William  Stearns  and  Samuel  Winslow  brought  out  a 
few  publications  in  the  town.     In  1796  Mr.  Stearns  printed  and 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  305 

partially  bound  an  edition  of  two  thousand  copies  of  the  New 
Testament,  the  first  ever  issued  in  New  Hampshire.  New  Ipswich 
has  claimed  the  honor  of  having  the  first  press  in  the  State  to  put 
forth  any  part  of  the  Scriptures,  but  Dover  had  preceded  it  by  an 
edition  in  1803,  and  Exeter  was  seven  years  in  advance  of  that. 
Nearly  the  whole  edition  was  unfortunately  consumed  by  a  fire  in 
the  printing  office,  so  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  find  a  copy  at 
this  day. 

The  American  Herald  of  Liberty,  which  was  begun  by  Henry 
Ranlet,  and  underwent  repeated  changes  of  title,  to  The  Neio 
Hampshire  Gazette  in  1791  ;  The  New  Hampshire  Gazetteer  in 
1792  ;  The  Weekly  Visitor  or  Exeter  Gazette  in  1795,  and  The 
Herald  of  Liberty  or  Exeter  Gazette  in  1796,  was  published  succes- 
sively by  the  printers  already  named,  Lamson,  Lamson  &  Odiorne, 
Samuel  Winslow  and  Stearns  &,  Winslow. 

SAMPLES    OF    EARLY    JOURNALISM. 

One  or  two  extracts  from  the  paper  may  be  amusing.  The  first 
is  an  advertisement  of  a  lost  mare  : 

Perdited  or  furated  on  an  inauspicious  nocturnal  hour  subse- 
quent to  the  day  lately  authoritatively  devoted  to  humiliation  and 
penitence  from  the  foenilian  dome  of  the  hyposcriptoratid,  a  leu- 
cophoeated  quadruped,  of  the  jumentean  order,  equestrian  genus, 
feminine  gender,  capitally  f nscated,  asterically  marked  in  cinciput, 
in  stature  according  to  equisonic  admeasurement  fourteen  and  a 
half  clenched  fists,  in  the  quiudeciraal  year  of  existence,  tollutates 
with  celerity,  succussates  with  agility  a  course  concitated,  is 
elegantly  graceful,  and  all  in  the  superlative  degree.  Whoever 
from  the  preceding  iconism,  by  percontation,  deambulation,  per- 
scuitation  or  otherwise,  shall  give  intelligence  of  the  nonpareil, 
and  will  apport  or  communicate  the  same  to  me,  shall  become  recip- 
rocal of  a  remuneration  adequate  to  the  emolument  from 

John  Hopkinson. 

April  18,  1788. 

This  effusion  must  probably  have  been  the  production  of  some 
mischievous  student  of  Dr.  Phillips's  new  academy,  as  Mr.  Hop- 
kinson  was  a  worthy  tradesman,  who  was  about  as  likely  to  have 
written  one  of  Cicero's  orations  as  to  have  produced  such  a  farrago 
of  turgid  bombast. 

Another  passage  from  the  paper  of  February  22,  1788,  was  in 
relation  to  the  convention  then  sitting  to  ratify  the  proposed 
Federal  Constitution. 

20 


306  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Yesterday  the  honorable  Convention  conckided  their  debates  on 
the  several  sections  of  the  Constitution,  and  it  is  supposed  it  will 
be  canvassed  upon  general  principles  previous  to  the  all  important 
question.  In  their  debates  has  been  the  greatest  candor,  a  desire 
for  information  on  the  important  subject  appears  to  have  been  the 
object  of  the  members  composing  that  honorable  body,  and  from 
theu"  desire  to  promote  the  great  interest  of  the  community,  we 
hope  the  most  salutary  determinations. 

The  all  important  moment  is  at  hand 

When  we  the  fate  of  milhons  must  decide, 

Freedom  and  peace  will  soon  pervade  the  land, 
Or  Anarch  stretch  his  horrid  pinions  wide. 

From  this  extract  it  is  not  difficult  to  infer  the  political  leaning 
of  the  paper. 

The  journal,  entitled  The  Freeman's  Oracle  or  New  Hampshire 
Advertiser,  was  commenced  in  the  town  about  August  1,  1786, 
presumably  by  Lamson  and  Ranlet  who  conducted  it  in  1788.  It 
bore  the  imprint  of  John  Lamson  alone  in  1789,  and  did  not  sur- 
vive that  year. 

In  1797  Henry  Ranlet  established  a  paper  entitled  The  Political 
Banquet  and  Farmer's  Feast.  The  Exeter  Federal  Miscellany  was 
established  about  December  1,  1798,  and  the  former  paper  was 
probably  merged  in  the  latter,  which,  thus  fortified,  was  certainly 
continued  to  October,  1799,  and  perhaps  longer. 

No  complete  files  of  any  of  these  early  Exeter  journals,  which 
were  all  weekly  publications,  are  known  to  exist,  and  it  is  from  a 
few  scattering  copies  that  the  foregoing  information  has  been 
chiefly  derived.  It  will  be  seen,  however,  that  from  1774,  or 
earlier,  when  Robert  L.  Fowle  first  set  up  his  press  in  Exeter,  to 
the  end  of  the  century,  the  town  was  probably  always  supplied 
with  one  or  more  printers,  and  for  nearly  all  the  time  with  a  like 
number  of  newspapers. 

As  has  been  stated,  Mr.  Ranlet  lived  and  continued  his  printing 
business  until  1807.  During  the  last  part  of  his  life  he  had  as  a 
partner,  Charles  Norris,  a  practical  printer,  who  kept  up  the  busi- 
ness after  Mr.  Ranlet's  death  until  1832.  A  part  of  that  time  he 
had  partners.  John  Sawyer  was  one,  and  Ephraim  C.  Beals 
another  ;  and  Mr.  Norris  was  for  some  time  connected  with  the 
publishing  firm  of  E.  Little  &  Co.  of  Newburyport,  Massachusetts, 
for  which  he  did  a  considerable  amount  of  printing.  The  chef 
d'oeuvre  of  his  press  was  Hoole's  translation  of  Tasso's  Jerusalem 
Delivered,  published  in  1819  in  two  octavo  volumes.  It  is  a 
really  beautiful  specimen  of  Exeter  typography. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  307 

It  is  not  known  that  the  town  could  boast  a  newspapei*  between 
1800  and  1810,  but  on  May  21,  of  the  latter  year,  Ephraim  C. 
Beals  began  the  publication  of  The  Constitutionalist,  a  weekly 
journal  of  fair  dimensions.  In  February,  1811,  Mr.  Beals  trans- 
ferred the  paper  to  Charles  Norris  &  Co.,  and  at  the  expiration  of 
the  first  year  it  came  to  a  stop,  probably  for  lack  of  support ;  but 
Mr.  Beals  recommenced  it  June  23,  1812,  and  it  survived,  with 
two  other  changes  of  proprietors,  till  June,  1814.  It  has  been 
said  that  James  Thom,  a  young  lawyer,  afterwards  of  Derry,  had 
the  editorial  charge  of  the  paper,  but  it  is  pretty  evident  that  he 
could  have  given  little  time  to  it,  for  in  respect  to  original  matter 
and  local  news,  it  was  but  scarcely  in  advance  of  its  predecessors 
of  the  last  century.  In  March,  1813,  Joseph  G.  Folsom  became 
its  publisher  and  editor,  but  gave  it  up  in  the  following  June  on 
account  of  ill  health,  when  Nathaniel  Boardman  took  it  up  and 
carried  it  to  its  end.  The  period  of  the  war  of  1812  was  charac- 
terized by  great  bitterness  of  political  feeling  and  by  very  un- 
pleasant personalities  in  journalism,  and  The  Constitutionalist  was 
not  entirely  free  from  them. 

It  was  two  years  after  the  termination  of  The  Constitutionalist, 
before  another  paper  arose.  It  was  started  by  Henry  A.  Ranlet, 
October  2,  1816,  under  the  name  of  The  Watchman.  Two  months 
later  it  went  into  the  hands  of  Nathaniel  Boardman,  and  its  title 
was  changed  to  the  Exeter  Watchman.  But  newspajDer  property 
in  the  town  was  not  very  permanent  in  those  days,  and  November 
9,  1819,  George  Lamson  became  the  proprietor,  and  added  to  it 
the  second  title  of  Agricultural  Repository ;  and  to  complete  the 
round  of  metamorphoses,  Samuel  T.  Moses  became  the  publisher 
February  6,  1821,  and  gave  it  the  designation  of  The  Northern 
Republican.  Mr.  Moses  was  a  practical  printer,  and  his  name 
appears  upon  the  title  page  of  several  publications  at  about  this 
date.  The  Northern  Republican  was  continued  only  to  the  for- 
tieth number. 

John  J.  Williams,  a  native  of  Exeter,  and  a  trained  printer, 
began  business  in  1818,  in  the  office  which  had  been  occupied  by 
Henry  A.  Ranlet,  then  lately  deceased.  His  brother,  Benjamin  J. 
Williams,  was  a  bookbinder ;  and  a  short  time  afterwards  they 
united,  under  the  firm  of  J.  and  B.  Williams,  in  the  printing  and 
publishing  business,  to  which  they  subsequently  added  that  of 
stereotyping.  Their  establishment  grew  to  be  large  and  profitable, 
and  for  upwards  of  twenty  years  issued  a  great  vai'iety  of  works, 


308  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

for  the  most  part  new  editions  of  those  which  were  ah*eacly  favor- 
ites of  the  public.  Some  of  them  were  books  of  sterling  value, 
and  put  forth  in  handsome  style  ;  perhaps  a  greater  number  were 
novels  and  tales  issued  in  24mo  volumes  and  usually  in  boards 
on  roan  bindings.  These  had  a  great  sale,  and  included  many  of 
the  works  of  Scott,  Bulwer,  Marryat  and  others. 

George  Lanison  was  a  native  of  the  town,  who  had  a  collegiate 
education  and  studied  the  profession  of  the  law.  For  a  few  years 
he  was  engaged  in  the  publication  of  legal  works  in  Exeter,  and 
then  removed  to  the  city  of  New  York,  where  he  died. 

Francis  Grant  began  life  as  a  bookbinder,  but  was  afterwards 
the  proprietor  of  a  small  printing  office  and  became  a  bookseller 
and  publisher.  As  such  his  name  and  appearance  were  familiar 
to  the  students  of  the  academy  for  half  a  century  and  more.  He 
published  that  very  useful  little  work,  called  A  Book  fot  Neio 
Hampshire  Children^  in  Familiar  Letters  from  a  Father,  written 
by  Hosea  Hildreth,  which  ran  through  five  editions.  Mr.  Grant 
commenced  the  issue  of  The  Rockingham  Gazette,  a  weekly  news- 
paper, September  21,  1824.  The  editor  was  Oliver  W.  B. 
Peabody.  The  paper  was  a  decided  improvement  upon  all  that 
had  preceded  it,  but  the  profession  of  journalism  was  yet  in  its 
infancy.  The  Gazette  came  to  a  close  in  October,  1827,  when  its 
subscription  list  was  transferred  to  The  Portsmouth  Journal. 

Within  the  next  three  j'ears  two  abortive  attempts  were  made  to 
establish  journals  in  the  town,  one  by  Joseph  Y.  James,  February 
12,  1829,  whose  experiment  was  called  The  Hive,  but  apparently' 
lacked  the  industry  of  the  bee  or  the  sweetness  of  the  honey,  for 
it  came  to  an  end  in  1830  ;  and  the  other  by  Michael  H.  Barton, 
the  "  2d.  mo.  12th.  1830  "  whose  venture  was  issued  in  duodecimo 
form,  eight  pages  in  a  number,  and  named  Something  Nexv.  This 
publication  was  designed  to  introduce  a  perfect  alphabet  and  a 
reformed  orthography ;  a  scheme  which  has  employed  the  atten- 
tion of  many  ingenious  men.  Mr.  Barton's  plan,  whatever  it  was, 
was  not  of  sufficient  interest  to  make  his  publication  a  success, 
for  it  probably  never  got  beyond  the  first  number. 

THE    NEWS    LETTER. 

At  length,  however,  a  permanent  newspaper  was  established  by 
John  S.  Sleeper,  May  31,  1831,  in  The  Exeter  News  Letter.  Mr. 
Sleeper,  though  not  a  native  of  the  town,  was  the  son  and  grand- 
son of  residents,  and  passed  his  childhood  in  Exeter.     Being  of 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  309 

an  active,  adventurous  disposition,  he  went  early  to  sea,  and  by 
his  ability  and  intelligence  rose  to  the  command  of  a  merchant 
vessel.  For  twenty-two  years  he  followed  the  profession,  and 
then  undertook  the  launching  and  management  of  a  newspaper. 
In  this  he  was  equally  successful.  He  held  an  easy  and  graceful 
pen,  and  knew  well  the  kind  of  matters  in  which  the  public  are 
interested.  He  edited  and  published  The  Exeter  News  Letter  for 
two  years,  and  then  sought  a  wider  field,  first  in  the  growing  town 
of  Lowell,  and  afterwards  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  where  he 
founded,  and  for  twenty  years  conducted,  to  great  popularity  and 
success,  The  Boston  Mercantile  Journal. 

John  C.  Gerrish,  who  was  familiar  with  the  printing  office, 
succeeded  to  the  control  of  The  Neivs  Letter,  and  fortunately 
engaged  for  his  editor  John  Kelly,  a  college  graduate  and  a 
lawyer  by  profession,  possessed  of  much  literary  taste  and  a 
pleasant  vein  of  humor  that  enabled  him  to  give  attractiveness  to 
the  driest  subject.  He  was  a  thorough  antiquary,  and  prepared 
for  the  columns  of  the  paper  a  series  of  historical  and  genealogical 
"  Collectanea,"  which  were  the  fruits  of  much  study  and  research, 
and  have  been  of  value  and  assistance  to  many  investigators  of 
family  history  since.  Mr.  Kelly  for  nearly  twenty  3'ears  retained 
the  editorial  charge  of  the  paper,  though  the  proprietorship  was  in 
the  meantime  transferred  to  Messrs.  Smith,  Hall  &  Clarke,  all  of 
them  skilled  printers. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Levi  W.  Leonard  subsequently  edited  The  News 
Letter,  and,  at  a  later  date,  Charles  Marseilles  became  the  pro- 
prietor. It  afterwards  went  into  the  hands  of  William  B.  Morrill, 
who  managed  it  for  several  years,  and  is  now  the  property  of  John 
Templeton,  a  graduate  of  the  printing  office,  and  not  without  ex- 
perience in  writing  for  the  press.  The  News  Letter  has  been 
repeatedly  enlarged  in  dimensions,  and  now  contains  nearly  twice 
the  amount  of  reading  matter  that  it  had  in  the  beginning. 

The  firm  of  Smith,  Hall  &  Clarke  was  composed  of  Oliver 
Smith,  Samuel  Hall  and  Samuel  B.  Clarke,  all  straightforward, 
successful  business  men.  Mr.  Hall  is  the  only  survivor,  and  has 
for  some  yeai's  retired  from  active  occupation.  Thomas  D. 
Treadwell,  who  was  employed  for  many  years  as  a  printer  in  the 
establishment  of  J.  and  B.  Williams,  and  afterwards  in  the  office 
of  The  News  Letter,  has  recently  died,  at  an  advanced  age. 

But  we  have  not  yet  done  with  the  Exeter  newspapers.  On  the 
second  of  April,  1835,  was  begun  The  Christian  Journal,  a  fort- 


310  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

nightly  publication,  by  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Eastern 
Christian  Publishing  Association.  Elijah  Shaw  was  the  editor, 
and  J.  C.  Gerrish,  the  printer.  There  was  also  an  "editorial 
council"  of  three,  chosen  yearly.  At  the  beginning  of  the  fifth 
year  the  title  of  the  paper  was  altered  to  The  Christian  Herald  and 
Journal;  at  the  beginning  of  the  sixth,  it  was  abbreviated  to  The 
Christian  Herald,  and  the  paper  was  issued  weekly.  It  was  next 
removed  to  Newburyport,  Massachusetts,  and  was  published  there 
afterwards. 

The  first  number  of  The  Granite  State  Democrat,  a  weekly 
paper,  appeared  in  January,  1840.  James  Shrigley  was  publisher, 
and  Joseph  L.  Beckett,  printer.  Mr.  Shrigley  was  a  minister  of 
the  Universalist  denomination,  and  Mr.  Beckett  was  a  native  of 
Exeter,  who  had  served  his  time  in  a  printing  office,  and  was  long 
employed  by  the  proprietors  of  The  Boston  Post.  He  was  a  genial 
soul,  with  a  good  deal  of  humor.  This  paper,  like  so  many  others, 
changed  hands  repeatedly.  In  1842  it  was  conducted  by  Ferdi- 
nand Ellis,  Jr.,  and  afterwards  by  AVilliam  Young.  In  January, 
1843,  Samuel  C.  Baldwin  became  the  proprietor,  but,  by  reason  of 
the  failure  of  his  health,  it  was  discontinued  March  9,  1843.  A 
subsequent  effort  to  revive  it  proved  unsuccessful. 

In  1841  no  less  than  three  attempts  were  made  to  establish  new 
journals  in  the  town.  The  first  was  in  February,  when  a  prospec- 
tus was  issued  of  a  semi-monthl}^  to  be  called  The  Hose  and  Thorn, 
but  it  is  supposed  that  no  sufficient  encouragement  was  offered. 
In  June  appeared  the  first  number  of  The  Granite  Pillar  and  New 
Hampshire  Temperance  Advocate,  to  be  continued  monthly  by 
Abraham  R.  Brown  under  the  editorship  of  Joseph  Fullonton,  but 
it  was  short-lived.  The  last  literary  venture  of  the  year  was  a 
semi-monthly,  called  The  Factory  Girl  and  Lady's  Garland.  It 
appeared  November  1,  J.  L.  Beckett  being  the  publisher.  It,  or 
its  successors,  continued  to  be  issued  in  Exeter  for  about  six  years 
it  is  believed.  In  1842  it  was  known  as  The  Factory  Girl  simply, 
and  was  conducted  by  C.  C.  Dearborn  ;  and  in  1843  as  The  Fac- 
tory Girl's  Garland,  by  A.  li.  Brown.  In  1845  and  1846,  it  was 
much  enlarged  and  entitled  The  Weekly  Messenger,  Literary 
Wreath  and  Factory  Girl's  Garland.  Later  it  was  removed  to 
Lawi'ence,  Massachusetts,  by  J.  L.  Beckett. 

A  weekly  sheet,  called  The  Squamscot  Fountain,  and  devoted  to 
the  cause  of  temperance,  was  begun  in  1843  by  Samuel  Webster 
and  J.  P.  Clough.  It  also  underwent  a  change  of  title  and  of 
proprietors,  but  those  did  not  save  it  from  an  early  dissolution. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  311 

la  1846  was  begun  a  paper  called  The  Factory  Girl's  Album  and 
Operatives'  Advocate,  by  Charles  C.  Dearborn,  as  publisher,  and 
William  P.  Moulton,  as  printer.  At  first  it  was  issued  weekly, 
and  afterwards,  semi-monthly,  and  was  enlarged ;  but  it  was  con- 
tinued only  a  little  more  than  a  year. 

January  1,  1853,  a  single  number  of  a  projected  weekly,  of  a 
religious  and  literary  character,  to  be  styled  The  Olive  Leaf,  ap- 
peared under  the  editoi'ship  of  R.  O.  Williams,  by  Currier  &  Co., 
proprietors,  but  it  never  readied  a  second  number. 

About  the  year  1857,  Thomas  J.  Whittem,  who  had  established 
The  American  Ballot,  a  weekly  paper  dedicated  to  the  interests  of 
the  American  party,  at  Portsmouth,  about  thi'ee  years  prior  to  that 
time,  ti'ansf erred  it  to  Exeter,  and  continued  to  publish  it  there 
until  its  discontinuance  in  1865. 


THE    GAZETTE,    AND    PRESENT    PUBLICATIONS. 

The  Exeter  Gazette  was  founded  in  1876  by  James  D.  P.  Win- 
gate  and  A.  P.  Dunton.  Three  years  afterwards,  J.  H.  Shaw 
purchased  the  interest  of  Mr.  Dunton.  In  1883  Mr.  Wiugate 
became,  as  he  still  is,  the  sole  proprietor.  An  experiment  was 
made,  a  few  years  since,  of  issuing  a  daily  paper  from  the  same 
office,  but  the  general  circulation  of  the  metropolitan  journals  is 
fatal  to  ventures  of  that  kind  in  the  smaller  towns.  The  Daily 
Gazette  struggled  against  fate  for  six  months,  when  it  succumbed. 

The  Weekly  Protest  was  established  by  Andrew  J.  Hoyt  in  1880, 
an  organ  of  the  Greenback  party. 

The  Exonian,  published  by  the  students  of  the  Phillips  Acad- 
emy, was  begun  in  1878 ;  and  The  Phillips  Exeter  Literary 
Monthly,  a  magazine  in  octavo  form,  in  May,  1886. 

The  present  periodical  publications  of  the  town  are  The  News 
Letter,  The  Gazette,  The  Protest  and  The  Exonian,  all  weekly,  and 
The  Literary  Monthly. 

CONTKIBUTOrvS    TO    THE    PRESS. 

Exeter  has  had  its  share  of  authors,  though  none  very  voluminous. 
No  attempt  will  be  made  here  to  give  a  complete  or  exact  biblio- 
graphical account  of  their  productions  ;  but  a  list  of  such  writers 
as  are  recalled  is  subjoined,  with  the  titles,  or  some  brief  descrip- 
tion of  the  character  of  their  works.  The  letter  n.  after  a  name 
stands  for  native,  and  r.  for  resident  of  the  town. 


312  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Rev.  John  Emery  Abbot,  n.  Sermons  ;  and  Memoir  by  Henry 
Ware,  Jr.,  1829. 

Rev.  John  W.  Adams,  r.     Sermons,  1884  and  1885. 

Joseph  L.  Beckett,  n.  Du-ectory  and  History  of  Exeter,  etc., 
1872. 

Charles  H.  Bell,  r.  John  Wheelwright,  1876.  History  of 
Phillips  Exeter  Academy,  1883. 

Rev.  John  N.  Brown,  r.     Emily  and  other  poems,  1840. 

Rev.  Ebenezer  L.  Boyd,  r.     Thanksgiving  Discourse,  1813. 

James  Bmiey,  n.     Company  Discipline,   1820. 

Rev.  Jacob  Chapman,  r.  Genealogy  of  the  Folsom  Family, 
1882.     Genealogy  of  the  Philbrick  Family,  1887. 

Rev.  Jonathan  Cole,  r.     One  or  more  sermons. 

Charles  Denis  Rusoe  D'Eres,  r.     Memoirs,  1800. 

This  person,  a  Canadian,  claimed  to  have  been  a  captive  among 
a  tribe  of  Indians  with  an  unpronounceable  name,  for  eleven  years. 
His  story  is  generally  regarded  as  apochryphal,  and  the  chief 
merit  of  the  book  isHts  rarity. 

Rev.  Ferdinand  Ellis,  r.  Election  Sermon,  1826,  and  other 
sermons. 

Rev.  Joy  H.  Fairchild,  r.  Autobiograpliy  and  Remarkable 
Incidents,  1855. 

A  perfect  sheaf  of  pamphlets  were  issued  in  relation  to  the 
offence  imputed  to  him,  and  containing  reports  of  the  various  in- 
vestigations and  trials  to  which  he  was  subjected. 

Jeremiah  Fellowes,  7i.  Reminiscences,  moral  poems  and  trans- 
lations, 1824. 

Charles  L.  Folsom,  n.  Oration  before  Handel  Society  of 
Dartmouth  College,  1821. 

Henry  F.  French,  r.     Treatise  on  farm  drainage. 

Dr.  S'elah  Gridley,  r.     A  volume  of  poems. 

Rev.  James  Haughton,  r.     One  or  more  sermons. 

Rev.  Hosea  Hildreth,  r.  Discourse  before  Washington  Benev- 
olent Society,  1813.  Two  discourses  to  townsmen,  1824.  Book 
for  New  Hampshire  Children,  1839,  5th  ed. 

Joseph  G.  Hoyt,  r.     Miscellaneous  writings  and  reviews,  1863. 

Mary  W.  Janvrin,  n.     Peace,  or  the  Stolen  Will,  etc. 

Rev.  Henry  Jewell,  r.     Dedication  Sermon,  1846. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  313 

Caroline  E.  Kelly,  n.     Grace  Hale,  and  other  juvenile  works. 

John  Kelly,  r.  Historical  communications  to  various  publica- 
tions. 

Alexander  H.  Lawrence,  w.  Examination  of  Hume's  Argument 
Against  Miracles,  1845. 

Rev.  John  C.  Learned,  r.  Obituary  Sermon  on  L.  W.  Leonard, 
D.  D.,  etc. 

Rev.  Orpheus  T.  Lanphear,  r.     One  or  more  sermons. 

Rev.  Charles  Lowe,  n.     Sermons  and  various  religious  writings. 

Rev.  Benjamin  F.  McDaniel,  r.     One  or  more  sermons. 

Rev.  Elias  Nason,  r.     Sermons  and  other  tracts. 

Rev.  Alfred  C.  Nickerson,  r.     Sermons,  1887. 

Thomas  Odiorne,  w.     The  Progress  of  Refinement,  1794,  etc. 

Rev.  John  Odlin,  r.     Sermons,  1725,  etc. 

[Woodbridge  Odlin],  n.     Review  of  Result  of  Council,  1842. 

Amos  A.  Parker,  r.     A  Trip  to  the  West  and  Texas,  1836. 

Rev.  Samuel  P.  Parker,  r.     One  or  more  sermons. 

Oliver  W.  B.  Peabody,  n.  Poem  on  bi-ccnteunial  of  New 
Hampshire,  1823.     Address  before  Peace  Society,  1830,  etc. 

William  B.  O.  Peabody,  w.  Sermons ;  and  Memoir  by  his 
brother,  1849. 

Robert  F.  Pennell,  r.     The  Latin  subjunctive,  etc. 

John  T.  Perry,  n.  Sixteen  Saviors  or  One  ?  1879.  The  Credi- 
bility of  History,  etc. 

Dr.  William  Perry,  r.  Address  in  behalf  of  Insane  Hospital, 
1834. 

Rev.  William  F.  Rowland,  r.  Election  sermons  1796  and  1809, 
etc. 

John  S.  Sleeper,  r.  Tales  of  the  Ocean,  1842.  Salt  Water 
Bubbles,  etc. 

Jeremiah  Smith,  r.  Eulogy  on  Washington,  1800.  Bi-centen- 
nial  discourse,  1838.     Judicial  opinions,  etc. 

William  Smith,  n.  Remarks  on  Toleration  Act  of  1819,  1823. 
Remarks  on  the  assassination  of  Julius  Ciesar,  1827. 

Rev.  George  E.  Street,  r.  Memorial  discourse  on  Hon.  Amos 
Tuck,  1880,  etc. 

John  Templeton,  n.     Hand  Book  of  Exeter,  1883. 

Dr.  Samuel  Teuuey,  r.  Papers  in  various  historical  and  scien- 
tific publications. 

Tabitha  Tenney,  n.  Female  Quixotism,  or  the  Adventures  of 
Dorcasina  Sheldon,  3  vols.,  1841,  5th  ed.  Domestic  Cookery, 
1808. 


314  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Oliver  Welch,  r.     Arithmetic,  1812,  several  eds. 

George  A.  Wentworth,  r.    Series  of  text  books  in  mathematics. 

Rev.  John  Wheelwright,  r.  Fast  day  sermon,  1637.  Mercurius 
Americanus,  1645. 

Charles  E.  L.  Wingate,  n.  History  of  the  Wingate  Family, 
1886. 

This  enumeration  does  not  include  several  authors  who  were 
born,  or  lived  for  some  time,  in  the  town,  but  whose  literary  work 
cannot  with  reasonable  probability  be  assigned  to  the  period  of 
their  residence  there.  Such  were  Lewis  Cass,  w.,  Henry  A.  S. 
Dearborn,  w.,  Timothy  Farrar,  r.,  Rev.  Roswell  D.  Hitchcock,  r., 
William  Ladd,  ?*.,  Charles  Folsoni,  ?i.,  Dudley  Leavitt,  ??.,  and 
others. 


INDUSTRIAL. 


^ 


^• 


^if^ij,^ 


-tt; 


^^^  '^ 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
MILLS  AND  MANUFACTURES. 

The  falls  in  the  rivers  were  imdoubtedly  amoug  the  induce- 
ments which  determined  the  location  of  the  settlement  of  Exeter. 
Their  immediate  value  as  fishing  places  was  no  more  fully  recog- 
nized than  their  prospective  importance  as  sources  of  water  power 
for  turning  the  wheels  of  mills. 

The  Exeter  river  afforded,  in  addition  to  and  above  the  main 
falls  at  the  head  of  tide  water,  at  least  five  valuable  mill  sites 
within  the  original  limits  of  the  town  ;  and  Little  river,  which 
empties  into  it,  two,  if  not  more,  of  less  magnitude.  Lamprey 
river  also  had  large  falls  near  its  mouth,  and  lesser  ones  at  other 
pohits  of  its  course,  while  the  Pascassic,*  a  branch  of  the  Lam- 
prey, furnished  water  power  which  was  afterwards  utilized  for  two 
mills,  at  least. 

The  first  mill  in  the  town  was  for  grinding  grain,  and  was  built 
by  Thomas  Wilson  at  the  foot  of  the  main  falls  on  the  easterly 
side  of  the  island  now  reached  by  String  bridge,  near  where  a  simi- 
lar mill  stands  to  this  day.  That  part  of  the  stream  which  runs 
in  the  channel  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  island  was  known  as 
AYilson's  creek.  The  mill  site  and  the  island,  on  which  Wilson 
also  erected  his  house,  were  granted  to  him  b}'^  the  town,  probably 
in  the  very  first  season  of  their  occupation,  and  before  any  formal 
records  that  we  know  of  were  kept.  The  evidence  of  this  is  found 
in  depositions  taken  in  the  year  1651.  Edmund  Littlefield  and 
Griflin  Montague  testified  that  "  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of 
Exeter  did  give  and  grant  unto  Thomas  Wilson  free  liberty  to 
draw  as  much  water  from  the  higher  falls  as  should  sufficiently 
serve  his  turn  at  all  times  for  his  own  use,  either  by  dio-o-iuo- 
through  the  rocks  or  by  damming  the  falls  ;  and  further  the  town 
did  freely  give  and  grant  unto  Thomas  Wilson  that  island  that  his 
house  stands  upon  ;  only  did  reserve  so  much  liberty  for  landino- 

*Tliis  name,  we  leam  from  Jenness,  was  early  epelt  Pascasscck.   It  has  been  modernizcfl 
without  improvc-ment,  iuto  Plecassic. 

317 


318  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

their  cauoes  and  laying  of  fish."  And  John  Compton  and  Robert 
Eead  testified  that  the  town  granted  "to  Thomas  Wilson  that 
creek  or  Avater  course  at  the  higher  fall  at  Exeter  to  dig  and  draw 
that  water  he  should  stand  in  need  of  at  any  time  without  any 
limitation  ;  and  also  gave  the  little  island  by  the  falls  on  which  his 
house  and  mill  standeth,"  The  "higher"  fall  refers,  of  course,  to 
that  farthest  down  the  river  and  next  to  tide  water ;  higher  in 
altitude  but  lower  in  location. 

Mr.  WUson  naturally  lost  no  time  in  improving  his  privilege  by 
the  erection  of  a  mill,  and  we  find  that  the  town  passed  an  order 
November  2,  1640,  regulating  "  the  miller's  toll."  He  died  in 
1643,  and  his  widow  afterwards  married  John  Legat ;  but  the  mill 
went  into  the  hands  of  his  son,  Humphrey  Wilson,  who  had  the 
charge  of  it  for  many  years  after. 

Up  to  the  year  1647  we  have  no  account  of  any  saw-mill  being 
built  in  Exeter.  Pipe  staves  and  other  kinds  of  small  lumber 
manufactured  before  that  time,  were  in  all  probability  riven  or 
split  out  from  the  logs.  The  square  timber  was  hewn  with  the 
axe,  and  the  boai'ds  needed  for  home  use  were  sawn  in  "pits," 
which  were  excavations  in  the  ground,  of  the  depth  of  six  or  seven 
feet.  The  log  to  be  cut  up  was  laid  across  the  mouth  of  the 
cavity,  and  the  long,  two-handled  saw  was  used  by  two  men,  one 
standing  in  the  pit  beneath  the  log,  and  the  "top  sawyer" 
mounted  above  it. 

An  ordinance  of  the  town  forbade  the  digging  of  saw-pits  in 
places  where  they  were  liable  to  prove  dangerous  to  man  or  beast. 

THE    FIRST    SAW-MILL. 

But  in  the  year  1647  the  town  took  a  great  step  forward.  An 
arrangement  was  made  for  the  immediate  construction  of  saw- 
mills, which  would  give  a  greatly  increased  value  to  the  abundant 
timber. 

Edward  Gilman,  of  Welsh  lineage,  emigrated  from  Hingham  in 
Norfolk,  England,  to  this  country,  with  five  children,  in  the  year 
1638,  and  settled  in  Hingham,  Massachusetts.  His  eldest  son, 
Edward,  thirty  years  of  age,  married,  and  a  man  of  property  and 
enterprise,  came  to  Exeter  in  1647  and  proposed  to  become  an 
Inhabitant,  upon  certain  conditions.  The  occasion  was  esteemed 
so  important  that  an  agreement  in  writing  was  entered  into 
between  him  and  the  townsmen  and  principal  inhabitants,  of  the 
tenor  following : 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  319 

4  November  1647.  The  agreement  of  the  iuhabitauts  of  the 
town  of  Exeter. 

Imprhnis,  That  we  do  accept  of  Edward  Oilman  the  younger  to 
be  a  townsman  amongst  us,  and  do  give  and  grant  him  liberty  to 
set  up  a  saw  mill  or  mills  in  any  river  or  within  the  liberty  of  Exe- 
ter, and  to  have  the  privilege  of  the  river  for  the  use  of  the  mills, 
and  of  the  pines  for  sawing,  or  masts  or  any  other  timber  for 
sawing,  to  have  the  privilege  of  it  within  the  liberty  of  Exeter. 

21y.     The  aforesaid  Edward  Gilman  does   engage   himself  to 
come  and  live  as  a  townsman  amongst  them,  and  to  setup  a  saw- 
mill by  the  last  of  March  next  ensuing,  if  he  come,  or    at  the 
furthest  by  the  last  of  August  next  ensuing. 

oly.  The  said  Gilman  does  engage  himself  to  let  the  towns- 
men have  what  boards  they  stand  in  need  of  for  their  own  use  in 
the  town,  at  three  shillings  a  hundred,  and  what  two-inch  planks 
they  shall  need  for  flooring  at  the  same  price,  and  to  take  country 
pay  at  price  current,  if  the  mill  shall  saw  it. 

41y.  The  said  Gilman  does  engage  himself  that  what  masts  he 
makes  use  of,  to  give  them  as  much  as  if  he  sawed  them  into 
boards,  and  to  a  load  haul  ten  hundred  in  every  3,000  to  the  town, 
oly.  Its  agreed  than  Anthony  Stanell  [Stanyan]  shall  have 
liberty  to  put  in  a  quarter  part  for  a  saw-mill  provided  he  do  make 
good  his  proportion  or  quarter  part  in  every  respect  of  charges  as 
a  partner,  so  that  the  work  be  not  hindered  by  him ;  if  he  do,  to 
forfeit  his  share  to  the  aforesaid  Gilman  and  to  pay  what  damages 
he  shall  sustain  by  it.  Eor  the  true  and  sure  performance  of  the 
same  we  do  bind  ourselves  in  a  forty  pounds  sterling.  In  witness 
whereunto  we  have  set  our  hands. 

William  Moore,  townsman,     Edward  Gilman. 

Samuel  Greenfield,* 

Nathaniel  Boulter, 

Balthazar  Willix, 

Edward  Hilton. 

Mr.  Gilman  at  once  took  up  his  residence  in  the  town  and 
became  a  leading  citizen.  His  father,  Edward  Gilman,  Sr.,  and 
his  two  brothers,  John  and  Moses,  followed  him  to  Exeter  within 
the  next  five  years,  and  his  brother-in-law,  John  Folsom,  in  about 
twelve  years.  Edward  Gilman,  Jr.,  completed  and  put  in  opera- 
tion a  saw-mill,  according  to  his  agreement,  in  the  spring  or  sum- 
mer of  1648.  It  was  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  upon  the  upper 
fall  near  the  present  Great  bridge  ;  and  before  June,  1650,  he 
erected  another  saw-mill  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  It  is 
not  known  that  Anthony  Stanyan  availed  himself  of  the  privilege 
reserved  to  him  in  the  agreement  with  the  town,  of  becoming  a 
partner  in  the  mills. 


320  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Encouraged  by  this  example,  a  number  of  the  more  enterprising 
inhabitants  made  application  to  the  town  for  mill  sites. .  On  April 
22,  1649,  Nathaniel  Drake,  Abraham  Drake,  Henry  Roby  and 
Thomas  King,  were  empowered  by  the  town  to  set  up  a  saw-mill 
at  Little  river  "  with  liberty  of  felling  timber  on  the  commons  for 
the  said  mill,  provided  they  come  not  for  timber  on  the  hither  side 
of  the  river  towards  Mr.  Gilman  his  saw-mill,  whereby  he  may  be 
damnified  for  want  of  timber."  The  tenns  of  the  grant  were  the 
same  as  those  allowed  to  Edward  Gilman,  Jr.,  in  respect  to  his 
mill.  The  locality  referred  to  was  probably  that  where  the  Little 
river  crosses  the  road  to  Brentwood,  which  some  of  the  sentimen- 
tal young  people  of  a  former  generation  denominated  the  "  vale  of 
Ovoca." 

On  the  same  April  22,  1649,  liberty  to  set  up  a  saw-mill  was 
given  to  Edward  Hilton,  James  Wall,  John  and  Robert  Smart  and 
Thomas  Biggs,  on  Pascassic  river ;  and  to  George  Barlow,  Nicho- 
las Listen,*  Francis  Swain,  Nicholas  Swain  and  John  Warren,  at 
the  falls  at  Lamprey  river  •"  a  little  above  the  wigwams."  The 
terms  in  each  case  were  the  same  as  those  allowed  to  Edward 
Gilman,  Jr.  Both  these  localities  were  probably  in  the  present 
town  of  Newmarket. 

That  it  might  be  distinctly  understood  that  no  person  should 
encroach  upon  the  privileges  already  ceded  to  Mr.  Gilman,  it  was 
ordered  by  the  town,  June  10,  1650,  "that  there  shall  not  be 
liberty  granted  unto  any  man  to  set  up  any  saw-mill  at  Exeter 
falls  upon  the  town's  ground  to  hinder  Edward  Gilman  of  his 
former  grant  of  his  two  saw-mills  at  the  falls,  or  timber  for  any 
other  saw-mills  near  to  the  said  falls." 

It  appears  that  another  saw-mill  was  about  this  time  erected  on 
the  east  side  of  the  river,  probably  at  the  foot  of  the  falls  nearest 
tide  water,  and  on  land  of  Humphrey  Wilson.  This  was  owned 
in  common  by  Wilson,  James  Wall  and  the  Rev.  Samuel  Dudley. 
And  on  the  second  of  January,  1650-1,  it  was  agreed  between 
them  and  the  town  that  the  former  two  should  pay  for  the  lumber 
two  shillings  per  thousand  for  the  oak  and  pine  boards  and  plank 
they  should  take  off  the  commons  and  saw  ;  but  Mr.  Dudley  was 
to  "go  free  without  payment  for  his  third." 

This  exemption  was,  of  course,  made  in  consideration  of  the 
ministerial  office  and  services  of  Mr.  Dudley,  but  it  did  not  pass 


*  Tills  man's  uame  was  often  written  Lissen  or  Leeson,  as  It  was  probably  pronounced.  It 
Is  believed  that  he  came  to  Exeter  from  Salem,  Maseachusetts,  where  his  name  was  spelt  as 
In  the  text. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  321 

unchallenged.  Henry  Roby  and  John  Gilman  dissented  from  the 
vote.  No  doubt  they  believed  that  Mr.  Dudley  was  sufficiently 
compensated  by  the  provision  already  made  for  him  by  the  town. 
Perhaps,  too,  they  discerned,  what  the  records  plainly  indicate  to 
us,  that  Mr.  Dudley  was  a  keen  man  of  business,  and  abundantly 
capable  of  taking  care  of  himself  without  having  any  distinctions 
made  in  his  favor.  But  it  was  a  courageous  thing,  in  those  days, 
when  the  ecclesiastical  office  was  hedged  about  with  so  much  disf- 
nity  and  authority,  for  a  layman  to  put  his  name  on  record  in 
opposition  to  a  motion  for  the  benefit  of  his  minister. 

The  fathers  of  Exeter,  however,  were  never  timid  or  backward 
in  the  expression  of  their  opinions,  and  rarely  withheld  them  out 
of  deference  to  the  views  of  those  who  differed  from  them. 

For  more  than  a  century  the  books  of  the  town  show  the  names 
of  dissentients  from  the  majority,  oftentimes  only  one  or  two  in 
number,  on  most  of  the  vexed  questions  of  municipal  policy. 

PICKPOCKET    FALLS    GRANTED. 

Another  privilege  for  a  saw-mill  was  given  by  the  town,  on 
April  20,  1652,  to  the  Rev.  Samuel  Dudley  and  John  Legat  and 
their  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  at  the  second  or  third  fall  above' 
the  town  on  the  fresh  river,  as  they  might  prefer,  with  the  right  to 
take  timber  for  their  mill  from  the  commons  there,  upon  the  terms 
of  paying  the  town  five  pounds  a  year  so  long  as  the  mill  should 
be  employed  in  sawing,  and  of  supplying  the  inhabitants  for  their 
own  use  boards  at  three  shillings  a  hundred,  if  taken  from  the 
mill.  They  chose  what  in  all  probability  was  then  known  as  the 
second  fall  above  the  town,  embracing  the  present  Paper  mill  fall 
and  Pickpocket  fall.  These  are  near  together,  and  not  being  then 
defined  by  dams,  might  well  enough  have  been  counted  as  one  fall. 
The  name  of  Pickpocket  was  very  early  given  to  the  mills  there 
built.  Its  origin  is  uncertain.  It  is  probably  a  corruption  of  the 
designation  given  by  the  Indians  to  the  locality  ;  though  there  are 
not  wanting  those  who  derive  it  from  the  supposed  unprofitable- 
ness of  some  of  the  business  undertakings  there. 

On  May  10,  1G52,  an  agreemeutwas  proposed  between  the  town 
and  Edward  Gilman,  Jr.,  that  he  and  his  assigns  should  thence- 
forth pay  to  the  town  for  the  use  of  what  timber  his  two  saw-mills 
should  cut,  ten  pounds  a  year,  in  lieu  of  half  a  hundred  of  boards 
on  every  two  thousand  sawn,  as  was  originally  stipulated. 
Whether  it  was  absolutely  concluded,  the  record  fails  to  state. 

21 


:]-22  HISTORY  (W  EXETEK. 

Ou  the  same  clay  Jxlward  Gilman,  Sr.,  Edward  Oilman,  Jr., 
Edward  Colcord  and  Humphrey  Wilson  had  granted  to  them  by  the 
town  liberty  to  set  up  a  saw-mill  at  the  lower  falls  in  Lamprey 
river  by  the  bridge,  and  to  take  tmiber  on  the  common  land  there 
for  their  mill,  on  the  payment  of  five  pounds  a  year  to  the  town, 
after  the  mill  should  be  built.  This  site  was  within  the  limits  of 
the  present  town  of  Newmarket. 

On  the  same  tenth  of  May,  lGo2,  Thomas  King  had  from  the 
town  liberty  for  a  saw-mill  on  the  great  fresh  river  below  the 
grant  to  Mr.  Dudley  and  John  Legat  at  the  foot  of  the  fall,  and 
timber  for  the  same  on  the  commons,  he  and  his  assigns  paying  to 
the  town  five  pounds  a  year  therefor,  and  furnishing  boards  for 
the  town's  use,  at  three  shillings  a  hundred.  This  was  the  first 
fall  above  the  town,  and  has  been  known  from  that  time  to  the 
present  as  King's  fall,  from  the  original  grantee. 

On  the  same  day  Thomas  Pettit,  Nicholas  Listen,  Thomas 
Cornish,  John  Warren  and  Francis  Swain  received  from  the  town 
a  privilege  for  a  saw-mill  at  Lamprey  river  ' '  on  the  next  great 
fall  above  the  fall  that  some  of  them  have  already  taken  posses- 
sion of,  paying  five  pounds  a  year  for  the  privilege,  beginning 
presently  after  next  Michaelmas."  This  fall  was  in  the  present 
town  of  Newmarket. 

GRANT  OF  Crawley's  falls. 

Ou  May  20,  1652,  the  town  granted  to  Robert  Seward  and 
Thomas  Crawley  liberty  to  erect  a  saw-mill  ou  the  great  fresh 
river  on  the  next  fall  above  Mr.  Dudley's  and  Mr.  Legat's  (pro- 
vided it  does  not  prejudice  their  or  other  former  grants)  and 
timber  on  the  commons  there  for  it,  they  to  pay  the  town  five 
pounds  a  year  therefor.  This  site,  which  is  now  in  the  town  of 
Brentwood,  has  never  lost  its  name  of  "  Crawley's  falls,"  given  it 
from  that  of  the  second  of  the  original  grantees. 

In  the  multiplicity  of  these  grants  it  was  obviously  necessary 
that  the  town's  interest  should  not  be  neglected,  and  on  the  eighth 
of  July,  1652,  the  inhabitants  appointed  a  committee  consisting 
of  Edward  Colcord,  John  Legat  and  Thomas  Biggs  to  call  to 
account  the  owners  of  saw-mills  and  to  make  demand  for  such 
boards  or  plank  as  were  due  to  the  town,  and  upon  non-payment 
to  take  a  legal  course  for  the  recovery  of  the  same  ;  and  on  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1653-4,  their  authority  was  extended  to  "the  present 
year  coming."     The  duties  of  this  committee  were  so  congenial  to 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  323 

the  inclination  of  its  chairman,  that  we  cannot  help  thinking  that 
he  must  have  been  instrumental  iu  its  appointment.  To  be  "in 
the  law  "  was  the  normal  condition  of  Edward  Colcord. 

On  November  6,  1653,  the  town  conferred  upon  Edward  Hilton 
"  in  regard  that  he  had  been  at  charge  in  setting  up  a  saw-mill,  to 
enjoy  for  himself  and  his  heirs  forever,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  below 
his  mill  with  the  land  and  timber  belonging  thereunto,  and  also 
above  his  mill  a  mile  and  a  quarter  with  the  land  and  timber 
belonging  thereunto.  This  land  and  timber  is  to  lie  square  ;  only 
on  this  side  of  Pascassic  river  to  come  about  a  stone's  cast."  The 
mill  referred  to  is  supposed  to  have  been  on  the  Pascassic,  and 
together  with  the  land  granted,  to  have  been  within  the  present 
town  of  South  Newmarket. 

In  1653,  Edward  Gilman,  Jr.,  the  principal  mill  owner  of  the 
town,  made  a  voyage  to  England  to  procure  improved  mill  gearing, 
and  never  returned,  having  been  lost  at  sea  on  his  passage.  His 
younger  brother,  John  Gilman,  succeeded  him  in  his  business  and 
in  a  great  part  of  his  property,  and  w^as  quite  competent  to  fill  his 
place.  He  survived  Edward  more  than  fifty  years,  and  became 
one  of  the  most  useful  and  distinguished  citizens  of  the  place. 

Lumbering  being  then  the  chief  money  producing  industry  in 
the  town,  the  mill  owners  were  very  naturally  called  upon  to  pay 
their  dues  in  cash  towards  the  support  of  the  minister.  At  a  town 
meeting  held  April  28,  1656,  it  was  agreed  that  "for  maintaining 
the  public  ordinances  the  saw-mills  belonging  to  the  town  should 
be  rated  as  follows  :  the  old  mill  upon  the  fall,  seven  pounds  ; 
Humphrey  [Wilson's]  mill  at  seven  pounds  ;  the  new  mill  of  John 
Gilman  at  six  pounds  ;  Mr.  Hilton's  mill  at  five  pounds."  The 
natural  inference  from  this  is  that  the  other  mill  sites  which  had 
been  granted,  were  not  yet  profitably  occupied.  It  w^as  also  pro- 
vided that  "when  the  ministry  faileth,  the  old  covenant  should  be 
in  force  :  to  wit,  from  the  old  and  the  new  mill,  half  a  hundred 
upon  two  thousand ;  and  from  the  Humphrey  [Wilson]  mill, 
eighteen  pence  upon  a  thousand,  and  plank,  two  shillings  upon  a 
thousand." 

On  May  11,  1657,  the  town  make  a  grant  to  Edward  Hilton, 
Jr.,  of  fifty  acres  of  pine  swamp  adjoining  his  father's  lot,  "  for 
his  sole  use  for  the  mill  that  he  intends  to  set  up  on  the  east  side 
opposite  the  new  mill,  upon  the  falls  of  Exeter,  with  liberty  to  set 
up  said  mill,  for  which  he  is  to  pay  five  pounds  annually ;  upon 
the  proviso  that  he  is  not  to  prejudice  the  new  mill  any  way  in 


324  IIISTOKY  OF  EXETER. 

respect  of  water.  If  John  Gilman  and  the  rest  be  willing  that  he 
should  fell  timber  upon  the  common,  then  this  grant  is  to  be  relin- 
quished ;  but  in  case  he  keeps  this  grant,  he  is  to  make  no  use  of 
timber  upon  the  common." 

On  June  8,  1657,  it  was  ordered  "that  all  the  pines  upon  the 
commons  from  this  time  forward  shall  be  reserved  for  the  use  of 
the  saw-mills  already  set  up,  or  that  have  been  granted  and  shall 
be  set  up,  except  that  there  is  liberty  for  masts,  fence  building 
and  canoes  ;  and  if,  at  any  time,  there  shall  be  any  particular 
grants  of  lands  made  to  any,  yet  the  owners  of  saw-mills  shall  have 
liberty  to  carry  off  the  pine  timber,  except  before  excepted.  " 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  April,  16G4,  the  town  directed  that  Cap- 
tain John  Clark's  mill  should  pay  "five  pounds  annually  to  the 
public  ministry,  though  there  be  something  dubious  within  the 
grant,  at  such  times  that  it  shall  not  be  improved."  The  meaning 
of  the  latter  expressions  quoted  seems  to  be  itself  "  something 
dubious."  The  mill  referred  to  must  have  been  that  on  Little 
river,  afterwards  known  as  Gordon's,  and  still  later  as  Giddiugs's 
and  Rowland's.  The  site  was  originally  granted,  April  22,  1649, 
to  the  Drakes,  Roby  and  Thomas  King,  the  last  of  whom,  on  June 
28,  1654,  "resigned  up  his  grant  of  a  saw-mill  formerly  granted 
to  him,"  which  was  evidently  this  one,  because  he  continued  to 
hold  and  enjoy  the  other  privilege  given  him  on  the  great  river. 

In  1653  Edward  Gilman,  Jr.,  being  on  the  eve  of  sailing  for 
Europe,  conveyed  to  his  brother  Moses  one-fourth  of  a  saw-mill 
"  now  a  building  on  little  fresh  river,  on  the  western  side  thereof," 
—  evidently  the  mill  in  question.  Apparently,  he  must  have  pur- 
chased a  share  of  the  rights  of  the  original  grantees.  Captain 
John  Clark,  who  was  an  old  lumberman  with  whom  both  the  Gil- 
mans  had  previously  had  dealings,  probably  acquired  the  mill  by 
purchase  afterwards.  It  is  repeatedly  referred  to  in  the  later 
records  of  the  town  as  Captain  or  Major  Clark's  mill. 

Strict  faith  appears  to  have  been  kept  by  the  town  with  the 
owners  of  mills  erected  in  conformity  with  its  grants.  In  the 
numerous  donations  of  land  to  individuals,  subsequently  made 
within  the  territory  whose  trees  were  assigned  to  the  mills,  a  pro- 
viso was  always  inserted  that  the  pine  timber,  except  masts,  etc., 
should  not  pass  with  the  soil  because  it  was  appurtenant  to  the 
mills. 

The  original  grist-mill  of  Thomas,  afterwards  of  Humphrey 
Wilson,  served  for  a  number  of  3'ears  to  grind  all  the  grain  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  325 

inhabitants,  but  at  length  John  Oilman  thought  it  expedient  to 
build  another  at  the  main  falls.  This  he  probably  did  by  the 
desire  of  the  inhabitants. 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  October,  1670,  Nicholas  Listen  and  John 
Robinson  were  chosen  by  the  town  to  go  and  forewarn  Humphrey 
Wilson  not  to  set  his  dam  over  the  highway  upon  the  upland  near 
to  John  Oilman's  grist-mill. 

What  repl}^  Humphrey  Wilson  made  to  this  "forewarning"  is 
not  known,  but,  perhaps,  not  a  perfectly  satisfactory  one,  for  on 
the  very  next  day  the  town  voted,  "that  whereas  there  had  been 
formerly,  to  their  understanding,  a  privilege  of  water,  and  a  liberty 
of  a  creek  granted  to  Humphrey  Wilson  upon  condition  that  he 
should  supply  the  town's  use  in  respect  of  grinding  their  corn,  and 
the  town  since  finding,  especially  of  late,  by  experience,  to  their 
great  loss  and  damage,  that  they  have  not  been  answered  to  their 
expectation,  the  town  do  hereby  grant  to  John  Oilman  the  privi- 
lege of  the  water,  so  that  the  saw-mills  or  any  other  mill  or  mills 
or  any  other  ways  by  stopping  of  gates  that  may  hinder  his  grist- 
mill, shall  be  at  liberty  for  the  use  of  the  grist-mill  to  answer  the 
town  for  grinding  their  corn  ;  upon  which  consideration  the  said 
John  Oilman  do  promise  upon  all  occasions  to  supply  the  town  in 
grinding  their  corn,  except  more  than  ordinary  providence  hinder." 

On  March  3,  1673,  it  was  ordered  "  that  those  who  have  felled 
any  pine  trees  have  liberty  to  take  them  away  within  a  year  ;  after 
which  any  of  those  to  whom  mills  appertain,  may  take  them  away 
for  the  use  of  their  mills  ;  but  hereafter,  when  those  who  fell  pine 
trees  shall  not  carry  them  away  within  three  months,  they  shall  be 
forfeited  to  any  one  who  takes  them  away  for  the  use  of  the  owner 
of  one  of  the  mills." 

It  was  also  ordered  "that  whoever  shall  fell  any  pine  tree 
(except  for  canoes,  masts  [or]  building),  and  shall  not  improve  it 
and  bring  it  to  the  use  of  the  mills  to  which  the  privilege  of  the 
timber  is  granted,  for  every  tree  so  felled  shall  forfeit  ten  shillings 
to  the  town." 

The  principal  mill  sites  having  been  thus  disposed  of,  the  town 
had  little  occasion  to  take  action  concerning  them  afterwards, 
except  in  the  two  instances  to  be  mentioned. 

On  September  9,  1701,  the  town  granted  "  to  Robert  Coffin,  his 
heirs  and  assigns,  all  the  right  the  town  hath  or  had  in  Lowd's 
falls  at  Lamprey  river,  with  all  the  privileges  of  the  flats  twenty 
rods  below  said  falls,  said  Coffin  not  to  hinder  any  transportation 


326  HISTORY  OF  EXETP:r. 

of  timber  down  said  river  ;"  in  consideration  whereof  said  Coffin 
bound  himself  to  pay  five  pounds  yearly  to  the  town  or  ministry 
by  way  of  rate,  so  long  as  any  mill  should  stand  upon  said  fall  on 
the  side  next  to  Exeter.  This  site  was  in  the  present  town  of 
Newmarket. 

And  on  the  first  Monday  of  April,  1709,  the  toAvn  voted  to  give 
"  all  the  right  the  town  have  in  the  stream  and  island  to  Captain 
John  Gilman,  where  the  said  Gilman's  corn-mill  now  stands,  with 
privilege  for  a  bridge  to  go  on  to  the  island,;  and  the  abovesaid 
John  Gilman  doth  oblige  himself  to  grind  the  inhabitants'  corn 
when  wanted,  for  two  quarts  in  every  bushel." 

None  of  the  several  mill  sites  mentioned  were  improved,  so  far 
as  has  been  learned,  for  any  other  purposes  than  for  grinding 
grain  and  sawing  lumber,  until  the  needs  of  the  country  during 
and  subsequent  to  the  AVar  of  the  Revolution  impelled  men  to 
employ  the  water  power  in  the  manufacture  of  otlier  indispensable 
articles. 

riCKPOCKET. 

The  mill  site  and  privilege  ceded  by  the  town  in  1652  to  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Dudley  and  John  Legat,  embraced,  as  has  already 
been  explained,  the  fall  which  has  from  very  early  times  borne 
the  above  unprepossessing  name.  The  first  use  to  w^iich  it  was  put 
was  to  drive  a  saw-mill,  and  probably  it  has  never  since  been 
without  one,  or  more.  The  Pickpocket  mill  was  a  well  known 
locality,  both  to  white  men  and  to  Indians.  The  latter  were  only 
too  intimately  acquainted  with  it,  for  in  their  raids  upon  the  fron- 
tier settlements  they  visited  it  repeatedly  in  pursuit  of  victims  or 
captives. 

When  Brentwood  was  set  off  from  Exeter  in  1742  the  main 
river  was  made  the  boundary  between  the  two  towns,  for  the  dis- 
tance of  about  half  a  mile.  The  Pickpocket  fall  was  in  that  part 
of  the  river,  so  that  one-half  of  it  belonged  in  each  town.  There 
have  been  mills  there  on  each  side  of  the  river,  since  ;  but  the 
chief  manufactories  have  been  on  the  Brentwood  side. 

One  of  the  earliest  attempts  in  this  part  of  the  countr}'  to  manu- 
facture cotton  cloth  was  initiated  there,  by  a  company  composed 
mostly  of  inhabitants  of  Exeter.  They  were  incorporated  by  act 
of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  in  1809,  under  the  name  of  the 
Exeter  Cotton  Manufacturing  Company. 

They  erected  a  factory  containing  eight  thousand  spindles,  and 
for  a  time  employed  Samuel  Chamberlain  as  their  agent.     He  had 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  •  327 

a  store  at  the  main  village,  in  which  he  offered  for  sale,  in  any 
quantity,  "yarn  and  cotton  bats,"  the  products  of  the  mill.  Joseph 
Hyde  then  acted  as  the  resident  superintendent.  Of  coui'se  the 
business  was  conducted  on  a  small  scale,  and  in  a  primitive 
fashion,  and  probably  brought  little  profit  to  the  original  investors, 
but  the  company  continued  to  prosecute  it  for  twenty  years,  and 
about  1820  a  card  factory  was  added  to  the  original  works,  and  an 
iron  furnace  for  casting  machinery. 

Not  far  from  the  year  1830  Captain  Nathaniel  Gilman,  Jr.,  pur- 
chased the  control  of  the  property,  and  continued  the  manufacture, 
with  John  Rogers  as  agent.  In  1840  he  sold  it  to  John  Perkins, 
and  a  few  years  later  the  factory  met  the  fate  to  which  all  such 
establishments  are  liable,  and  was  consumed  by  fire. 

It  was  afterwards  rebuilt,  and  adapted  to  the  manufacture  of 
paper.  Willard  Russell,  Jacob  Colcord,  Joshua  Getchell,  and  a 
Boston  stock  company  of  which  Isaac  Bradford  was  agent,  suc- 
cessively occupied  it,  for  the  latter  use. 

The  manufacture  of  wooden  boxes,  in  connection  with  a  saw- 
mill, is  carried  on  there,  at  the  present  time. 

THE    PAPEK-MILLS. 

The  fall  in  the  Exeter  river  next  above  King's  fall  has  for 
more  than  a  century  past  been  improved,  and  most  of  the  time  as 
the  site  of  paper-mills,  as  well  as  of  a  grist-mill. 

The  first  paper-mill  was  begun  in  1777  or  soon  after,  by  Richard 
Jordan,  a  practical  manufacturer,  who  came  from  Milton,  Massa- 
chusetts. He  purchased  this  site  and  water  power  for  the  pur- 
pose, from  Joseph  Leavitt,  3d,  and  others.  His  first  experiments 
were  seemingly  not  entirely  successful,  but  we  learn  from  a 
newspaper  of  the  time  that  in  September,  1785,  the  mill  had  under- 
gone a  thorough  repair  and  was  nearly  finished.  In  1787  Jordan 
sold  the  paper-mill,  power  and  implements  to  Eliphalet  Hale,  who 
in  17*J5  conveyed  them  to  William  Hale.  They  both  continued 
the  production  of  paper,  the  latter  until  after  the  year  1806  ;  and 
the  property  next  passed  into  the  hands  of  Stephen  or  Gideon 
Lamson  who  in  1813  conveyed  it  to  Enoch  Wis  wall  and  John 
Hunting  of  Watertowu,  Massachusetts.  They  retained  it  but  a 
couple  of  years,  and  in  1815  transferred  it  to  Thomas  Wiswall  of 
Newton,  Massachusetts.  He  removed  to  Exeter,  and  took  into 
partnership  Isaac  Flagg,  and  the  firm  of  Wiswall  and  Flagg  con- 
tinued the  manufacture  of  paper  there  with  success,  until  the  death 


328  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

of  the  senior  partner  in  1836.  Three  years  before,  in  February, 
1833,  the  mill  had  been  burned,  but  was  rebuilt  the  same  season, 
with  improved  apparatus.  After  the  decease  of  Thomas  Wiswall, 
Mr.  Flagg  took  one  of  his  heirs,  Otis  Wiswall,  into  partnership, 
and  they  continued  the  manufacture  under  the  firm  of  Flagg  and 
Wiswall.  Still  later,  the  three  sons  of  Mr.  Flagg,  Isaac,  Jr., 
Joseph  and  Samuel  C.  Flagg,  succeeded  to  the  property,  and  prose- 
cuted the  business  until  the  year  1870,  when  the  mill  was  again 
reduced  to  ashes,  and  was  not  replaced.  The  privilege  is  now 
owned  by  the  Hon.  Nathaniel  Gordon. 

THE    POWDER-MILLS. 

Every  reader  of  history  will  recall  the  dismay  of  Washington 
when  he  discovered,  not  long  after  he  assumed  the  command  of 
the  American  army  at  Cambridge  in  1775,  their  destitute  condi- 
tion in  the  all  important  article  of  gun-powder ;  as  well  as  the 
sagacity  Avith  which  he  concealed  the  appalling  fact,  and  reached 
out,  far  and  near,  to  supply  the  deficiency.  But  still,  the  scarcity 
and  need  of  powder  in  the  earlier  stage  of  the  war  was  apparent 
to  all,  and  stimulated  patriotic  ingenuity  to  attempt  its  manufact- 
ure. It  was  undertaken  for  the  first  time  in  New  Hampshire,  in 
Exeter.  Colonel  Samuel  Hobart,  a  native  of  Groton,  Massachu- 
setts, and  a  former  resident  of  Ilollis,  had  served  as  paymaster  to 
the  New  Hampshire  troops  about  Boston  in  1775,  and  removed  in 
1776  to  Exeter,  and  there,  probably  with  the  assistance  of  Colonel 
Samuel  Folsom,  who  was  allowed  to  borrow  of  the  State  on  his  bond 
three  hundred  pounds  for  the  purpose,  purchased  from  Samuel 
Quimby  the  mills  and  water  privilege  at  King's  falls,  and  constructed 
a  powder-mill.  It  was  a  difficult  undertaking,  but  Hobart  was  a 
man  not  easily  discouraged,  and  soon  succeeded  in  putting  his  ma- 
chinery into  good  working  order.  The  mill  commenced  operations 
about  the  middle  of  August,  1776.  The  following  description  of 
it  appeared  in  a  contemporary  newspaper  under  date  of  August  24  : 

A  powder-mill  erected  in  this  town  b}'  Colonel  Saumel  Hobart, 
who,  for  his  expedition,  merits  thanks  from  the  public,  having 
employed  a  number  of  the  best  hands  in  the  countr}',  and  is  now 
agoing,  and  is  an  improvement  upon  the  former  plans  of  powder- 
mills  ;  said  to  be  preferable  to  those  before  built  in  New  England. 
Forty-four  pestles  are  carried  by  one  shaft,  standing  in  rows  on 
each  side  thereof.  Besides  the  mill,  within  the  aforesaid  time, 
has  been  completed  a  building  for  pulverizing  and  purifying  the 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  329 

saltpetre  for  one  part,  and  ou  the  other,  a  room  for  drying  the 
powder.  All  the  works  have  been  contrived  and  carried  on  under 
the  inspection  of  the  ingenious  Mr.  C,  late  of  Boston,  and  is 
capable  of  manufacturing  2400  weight  of  powder  in  a  week. 
The  Committee  of  Safety  sitting  in  this  town,  in  company  with 
several  other  gentlemen,  visited  the  powder-mill  on  Thursday 
evening,  when  it  was  going  in  all  its  parts,  performed  by  water, 
viz.,  pounding,  grinding,  sifting  and  graining.  They  were  well 
pleased  therewith,  fired  a  number  of  muskets  and  pistols  charged 
with  the  powder  taken  from  the  drying  room,  and  judged  it  in 
every  respect  equal  to  an}^  imported  from  Europe. 

The  manufacture  of  poAvder  was  continued  by  Colonel  Hobart 
for  some  time,  perhaps  throughout  the  war.  In  1777  he  had  a 
contract  with  the  State  to  supply  the  troops  therewith.  It  is  mar- 
vellous that  with  the  poor  materials  at  command  the  manufacture 
was  so  successful.  There  was  no  supply  of  sulphur  or  saltpetre 
in  the  country,  and  the  State  encouraged  their  production  by  of- 
fering prices  in  the  nature  of  bounties,  for  each,  of  domestic  man- 
ufacture. The  saltpetre  was  largely  procured  by  leaching  the  soil 
taken  from  beneath  old  barns  and  stables  ;  —  to  such  straits  were 
our  fathers  reduced  to  obtain  the  means  to  defend  their  liberties. 

After  the  war  was  over,  Colonel  Hobart  put  his  mills  to  a  dif- 
ferent use.  The  old  method  of  manufacturing  "wrought"  nails 
was  by  shaping  and  heading  each  one  separately  by  hand  without 
the  aid  of  machinery.  This  was  a  slow  and  laborious  process,  and 
necessarily  very  expensive.  So  valuable  were  tlie  products,  as 
appears  by  the  inventory  of  the  property  of  a  deceased  person, 
about  half  a  century  earlier,  that  the  stock  of  nails  belonging  to 
his  estate  was  actually  counted,  and  the  number  of  them  set  down 
at  nine  hundred  and  one.  The  estate  was  divided  amicably  among 
several  heirs,  and  some  wonder  has  been  expressed  how  they  dis- 
posed of  the  odd  nail. 

The  art  of  cutting  or  slitting  iron  into  nail  rods  by  machinery 
had  recently  been  invented,  and  Colonel  Hobart  fitted  his  mills 
for  that  work.  We  learn  from  the  Freeman' s  Oracle  of  Septem- 
ber 27,  1785,  that  "the  furnace  and  slitting-mill  some  time 
past  undertaken  by  Colonel  Hobart  at  King's  falls,  in  this  town, 
were  last  week  completed,  and  visited  by  the  judges  of  the  Supe- 
rior Court  then  sitting." 

Ten  years  after  this  Colonel  Hobart  sold  his  land,  mills  and 
water  rights,  including  the  iron  works  or  forge  at  King's  falls,  to 
Joshua  Barstow,  who  continued  to  occupy  the  chief  p>art  of  them 


330  HISTORY  OF  EXETEK. 

for  the  same  purposes,  it  is  believed,  until  his  death  about  1824. 

In  1814  Bars  tow  conveyed  a  small  part  of  the  land  with  one- 
fourth  of  the  water  power  to  Charles  C.  Barstow,  gunsmith,  who 
set  up  the  manufacture  of  small  fire-arras  there,  to  a  limited  ex- 
tent. This,  it  is  presumed,  lasted  but  a  few  years.  After  Joshua 
Barstow's  decease  the  property  was  occupied  by  Benjamin  Hoit. 
It  then  included  a  large  wooden  mill,  which  is  said  to  have  been 
first  designed  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton  cloth.  Hoit  used  it 
for  the  production  of  coarse  yarns  and  cotton  batting.  From  his 
possession  the  establishment  passed  into  that  of  Nathaniel  Gor- 
don, and  subsequently,  about  1830,  was  purchased  by  Benjamin 
R.  Perkins.  The  same  kind  of  manufactures  were  kept  up  by 
both  the  last  named  proprietors. 

About  1838  Mr.  Perkins  sold  the  property  to  Oliver  M.  Whipple 
of  Lowell,  Massachusetts.  He  established  powder-mills  upon  it, 
under  an  act  of  incorporation,  by  the  name  of  the  King's  JNIills 
Powder  Company.  Alvin  White  was  the  superintendent  of  the 
works,  and  at  a  later  period,  James  F.  Huntington.  The  latter  was 
a  man  of  wonderful  coolness  and  daring.  On  one  occasion  the 
roof  of  one  of  the  buildings,  in  whicli  was  stored  a  large  quantity 
of  powder,  took  fire.  Ninety-nine  men  in  a  hundred  would  have 
left  it  to  its  fate,  but  Huntington  braved  the  terrible  risk,  mounted 
the  roof  and  poured  on  water  until  he  extinguished  the  flames. 

Before  that  time,  however,  more  than  one  of  the  mills  had  been 
blown  up.  On  the  evening  of  August  25,  1840,  about  a  quarter 
past  nine,  the  people  for  miles  around  were  startled  by  an  explo- 
sion of  a  large  quantity  of  powder  at  the  mills,  which  shook  the 
very  ground.  Fortunately  no  one  was  injured,  as  all  the  workmen 
had  o;one  to  their  homes.  But  it  is  said  that  the  violence  of  the 
explosion  was  so  great  that  it  actually  emptied  the  water  out  from 
the  canal  into  the  adjacent  highway. 

Another  similar  accident  happened  on  the  seventeenth  of  May, 
1843,  when  a  single  building,  containing  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  pounds  of  powder,  was  destroyed.  One  of  the  workmen  who 
was  in  the  building  was  literally  blown  to  pieces,  and  fragments 
of  his  body  were  caught  and  hung  in  the  branches  of  a  neighbor- 
ing tree. 

The  powder  manufacture  ceased  some  time  after  1850,  and  the 
old  cotton-mill  on  the  falls  was  burned  and  the  dam  carried  away. 
In  1855  the  property  was  purchased  by  AVilliam  M.  Hunnewell, 
who  repaired  the  dam  and  moved  a  large  mill  building  upon  the 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  331 

premises,  and  fitted  it  up  for  the  manufacture  of  hubs,  spokes 
and  shingles.  This  he  carried  on,  besides  a  grist  and  saw-mill, 
until  the  year  1867,  when  he  conveyed  the  whole  to  the  Exeter 
Manufacturing  Company,  who  are  still  the  owners. 

"the  falls  of  the  squamscot." 

At  the  principal  falls  in  the  village  of  Exeter  there  are,  and 
long  have  beeo,  two  dams,  twenty  or  thirty  rods  apart,  known  as 
the  upper  and  lower,  with  reference  to  their  position  on  the  stream. 
At  the  lower  dam  the  river  is  divided  by  an  island  into  two  chan- 
nels. There  were  constructed  on  these  falls,  in  the  following- 
order,  first,  Thomas  Wilson's  grist-mill ;  then  Edward  Oilman's 
two  saw-mills,  one  on  the  eastern  and  the  other  on  the  western 
side  of  the  river  ;  then  Humphrey  Wilson's  saw-mill,  on  the  east- 
ern side  ;  and  lastly,  John  Gilman's  grist-mill  on  the  western  side 
of  the  island.  Some  of  them  changed  ownership  many  times,  and 
others  were  added  in  after  years  ;  but  it  was  long  before  a  mill 
Avas  built  there  for  any  different  use.  At  length,  however,  mills 
for  a  variety  of  other  purposes  sprang  up. 

AVhen  AVashington  visited  the  place  in  1789  he  recorded  in  his 
diary  that  "in  the  town  are  considerable  falls  which  supply  sev- 
eral grist-mills,  two  oil-mills,  a  slitting-mill  and  snuff-mill." 

The  oil-mills  were  for  expressing  linseed  oil  from  flaxseed  ;  the 
slitting-mills  for  catting  nail  rods. 

In  1795,  Dr.  Samuel  Tenney,  in  his  account  of  Exeter,  stated 
that  the  dams  over  the  falls  "afforded  seats  for  four  double 
geared  corn-mills,  four  saw-mills,  two  oil-mills  and  one  fulling- 
mill." 

From  Phinehas  Merrill's  plan  of  the  village  in  1802  we  learn 
that  there  were  then,  at  the  upper  dam,  Ebeuezer  Clifford's  grist 
and  saw-mills  and  York's  grist  and  saw-mills  on  the  western  side  ; 
and  D.  Clark's  grist-mill  and  fulling-mill,  S.  Wiggin's  oil-mill,  and 
S.  Folsom's  nail  factory  on  the  eastern  side.  On  the  lower  dam 
were  S.  Brooks's  grist-mill  on  the  western  side,  and  8.  Oilman's 
saw-mill  and  J.  Smith's  oil-mill  on  the  eastern. 

MerrilVs  Gazetteer  informs  us  that  in  1817  the  fulling-mill,  the 
two  oil-mills,  the  saw  and  grist-mills  were  still  there,  and  that  a 
woollen  factory  had  been  added,  which  was  on  the  west  side  of  the 
upper  dam.  This  was  a  building  of  considerable  size,  erected  by 
Nicholas  Oilman  in  1803  to  contain  carding  and  other  machinery. 


332  HISTOEY  OF  EXETER. 

After  his  death  it  was  owned  for  some  years  by  Colonel 
Nathaniel  Gilman,  and  used  for  the  manufacture  of  satinet  cloths, 
under  the  management  of  his  sons  Nicholas  and  Daniel.  The  old 
woollen-mill,  as  it  was  termed,  was  subsequently  occupied  by  Cap- 
tain James  Derby  as  a  machine  shop,  and  then  by  Woodbridge 
Odlin  as  a  storehouse.     Between  1845  and  1850  it  was  burned. 

In  the  latter  part  of  1824  Dr.  William  Perry  completed  a  mill 
situated  on  the  east  side  of  the  upper  dam,  for  the  manufacture  of 
starch  from  potatoes.  He  was  induced  to  undertake  this  enter- 
prise by  a  series  of  experiments  which  convinced  him  that  British 
gum,  which  was  used  by  the  cotton  manufacturers  as  a  sizing  for 
their  cloth,  was  nothing  but  charred  starch.  Moreover,  it  was 
imported  and  expensive.  Dr.  Ferry  succeeded  in  making  starch 
which  was  highly  commended,  and  furnished  the  cotton-mills  in 
Lowell,  at  a  lower  price,  with  a  perfect  substitute  for  British  gum. 
His  mill  was  burned  to  the  ground  March  3,  1827,  but  he  rebuilt 
it  at  once.  Again  it  was  burned  in  1830,  and  the  energetic  doc- 
tor had  it  in  operation  again  in  three  weeks'  time.  He  used  from 
thirty  to  forty  thousand  bushels  of  potatoes  annually.  At  length, 
some  enterprising  and  not  too  scrupulous  person  contrived  to  dis- 
cover in  a  clandestine  way  the  secrets  of  the  business,  which  gave 
rise  to  competition  and  rendered  it  less  remunerative,  and  after  a 
time  the  doctor  abandoned  it,  and  the  mill  was  turned  to  other 
uses. 

EXETEK    MANUFACTURING    COMPANY. 

About  the  year  1827  the  design  was  formed  to  utilize,  for  the 
purpose  of  cotton  manufacture,  the  water  power  of  the  upper  falls 
in  the  village  of  Exeter,  which  was  then  owned  in  fractions  by 
several  persons,  and  employed  for  various  objects.  Two  com- 
panies Avere  formed  for  the  purpose.  Benjamin  Abbott,  John  T. 
Gilman,  Nathaniel  Gilman,  John  Rogers,  William  Perry,  George 
Gardner  and  their  associates  were  incorporated  by  the  Legislature 
in  June,  1827,  as  the  Exeter  Mill  and  Water  Power  Company ; 
and  Nathaniel  Gilman,  John  T.  Gilman,  Bradbury  Cilley,  Stephen 
Hanson,  John  Rogers,  Nathaniel  Gilman,  3d,  Paine  Wingate  and 
their  associates  as  the  Exeter  Manufacturing  Company. 

The  former  corporation  purchased  the  control  of  the  water 
power,  and  conveyed  to  the  Manufacturing  Company  a  sutlicient 
part  of  it  to  operate  five  thousand  spindles.  The  Manufacturing 
Company  erected  a  brick  mill  of  suitable  capacity,  and  commenced 
the  manufacture  of  cotton  sheetings  therein  in  the  year  1830.     The 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  333 

building  agent  was  Stephen  Hanson  of  Dover  ;  the  first  president 
was  John  Houston,  and  the  clerk  and  manufacturing  agent  was 
John  Lowe,  Jr. 

The  plan  of  two  corporations  being  afterwards  found  cumbrous 
and  unnecessary,  the  Mill  and  Water  Power  Company,  by  author- 
ity of  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  in  1861  conveyed  all  theu'  prop- 
erty and  franchises  to  the  Manufacturing  Company. 

The  Exeter  Manufacturing  Company  have  also  acquired  all 
the  water  rights  at  the  lower  dam,  so  that  they  are  now  the  owners 
of  the  entire  available  power  on  the  river  between  the  Paper  mill 
fall  and  tide  water. 

In  the  year  1876  that  company  erected  a  new  mill,  adjoining 
the  old  one,  thereby  substantially  doubling  their  manufacturing 
capacity.  By  reasou  of  the  lowering  of  the  river  in  the  summer 
months,  it  became  necessary,  also,  to  provide  the  establishment 
with  auxiliary  steam  power. 

In  December,  1887,  the  upper  two  stories  of  the  old  mill  were 
consumed  by  fire,  but  the  damage  was  repaired  and  new  machinery 
put  in  and  set  in  operation  in  about  two  mouths.  The  modern 
protections  against  fire,  with  which  the  building  was  provided,  no 
doubt  prevented  a  more  extended  conflagration. 

The  management  of  the  company  is  efficient,  and  in  accord  with 
the  improved  methods  of  the  times.  The  goods  they  manufacture 
have  always  maintained  the  highest  standing  in  the  market. 

Since  the  year  1864  Hervey  Kent  has  been  the  treasurer  and 
agent. 

The  other  officers  of  the  company  are  Eben  Dale,  president ; 
Eben  Dale,  Hervey  Kent,  Thomas  Appleton,  John  W.  Farwell 
and  William  J.  Dale,  Jr.,  directors. 

OTHER    WATER-MILLS. 

Above  the  fall  in  the  Little  river,  which  has  been  mentioned,  are 
two  others  within  the  township  of  Exeter.  The  one  nearest  the 
village  was  improved  almost  a  century  ago,  in  operating  Barker's 
fulling-mill.  Upon  the  other,  further  up  the  stream,  near  the 
line  of  Brentwood,  has  been  erected  a  saw-mill.  The  water  power 
of  each  is  somewhat  limited. 

We  have  it  upon  the  authority  of  a  gentleman  of  veracity,  some 
years  since  deceased,  that  there  was,  in  former  times,  a  saw-mill 
carried  by  the  water  of  Kimmiug's  brook.  The  brook  is  fed  by 
springs,  and  flowed  originally  through  a  forest,  so  that  it  is  easy 


334  HISTORY  OF  EXETEK. 

to  believe  that  its  volume  of  water  was  once  much  greater  thau  it 
now  is. 

Below  the  main  falls  of  the  river,  and  on  the  western  side, 
more  than  half  a  century  ago,  was  built  a  tide-mill  for  grinding 
bark  for  tanning  purposes,  by  John  Rogers  and  Joseph  Furnald. 
The  building  is  still  standing,  though  it  is  a  number  of  years  since 
it  was  employed  for  its  original  use. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

BUSINESS   AND   TRADE. 

As  has  alread}'  been  stated,  the  main  reliance  of  the  inhabitants, 
in  the  early  times,  for  the  means  of  support,  was  upon  the  growth 
of  the  forest.     And  lumbering  continued  to  be  their  chief  occupa- 
tion for  upwards  of  a  hundred  years,  and  until  the  soil  was  well 
nigh  stripped  of  its  finest  timber.     It  was  a  pernicious  employ- 
ment for  the  moral  and  material  welfare  of  the  community.     The 
traders  indeed  found  it  profitable.     They  bought  the  timber  and 
paid  for  it  in  merchandise,  then  rafted  the  logs  down  the  river,  or 
had  them  cut  up  in  the  mills  into  small  lumber,  which  they  sent 
off  in  coasters,  realizing  large  profits  from  either  transaction.     But 
the  lumbermen  themselves  worked  hard,  fared  hard,  and  were  too 
apt  to   drink  hard.     Agriculture,  which  should  have  been  their 
principal  dependence,  was  neglected.     The  owners  of  farms  that 
might  have  been  made  profitable,  failed  to  raise  products  enough 
for  their  own  subsistence,  and  lived  upon  Virginia  corn  and  pork, 
which  they  bought  from  the  traders.     Their  great  ambition  was  to 
keep  up  their  teams  of  working  oxen  to  haul  their  lumber  to  mar- 
ket.    At  night  they  gathered  in  the  numerous  taverns  and  spent 
the  hours  in  drinking  and  coarse  merriment.     They  were  poor  in 
the  midst  of  plenty,  and  destitute  of  all  wholesome  ambition. 

It  is  not  easy  to  estimate  the  quantity  of  timber  which  was  car- 
ried away  from  the  town  while  the  process  of  deforesting  was 
going  on.  Some  vague  idea  of  it  may,  perhaps,  be  formed  from 
the  dealings  of  a  single  person.  In  1754  Colonel  John  Phillips, 
then  a  principal  trader  in  Exeter,  sold  to  Colonel  Warner  of 
Portsmouth,  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  four  hundred 
twenty-seven  feet  of  boards  and  lumber  ;  in  1757,  nearly  the  same 
quantity,  and  in  1759,  one  hundred  and  fifty-nine  thousand  eight 
hundred  eighty-six  feet. 

After  the  peace  of  1763  things  changed  for  the  better.     The  cul- 
tivation of  the  soil  was  seen  to  be  indispensable ;  the  owners  of 

335 


33 G  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

lands  turned  to  farming  for  their  support,  and  thrift  and  prosper- 
ity gradually  took  the  place  of  imprudence  and  poverty. 

SHIP-BL'ILDING. 

From  a  very  early  period  the  various  kinds  of  craft  to  navigate 
the  river,  the  great  highway,  from  the  light  canoe  to  the  sturdy 
gundalow,  were  constructed  in  Exeter.  From  those  it  was  an  easy 
transition  to  build  vessels  for  sailing  along  the  coasts,  and  for 
ocean  voyages.  As  early  as  1651  Edward  Gilman,  Jr.,  had  upon 
the  stocks  a  vessel  of  about  fifty  tons  burden.  In  the  returns  of 
the  custom-house  in  Portsmouth  for  three  months  in  the  year  1692, 
two  clearances  from  Exeter  for  Boston  are  found  ;  one  of  the 
sloop  "Endeavor"  of  Exeter,  twenty  tons  burden,  plantation 
built,  having  on  board  six  thousand  of  pipe  staves,  and  four  hun- 
dred feet  of  pine  planks  ;  the  other  of  the  sloop  "Elizabeth"  of 
Exeter,  of  twenty  tons,  Francis  Lyford,  commander,  plantation 
built,  having  on  board  one  thousand  feet  of  boards,  four  thousand 
staves,  fourteen  thousand  of  treenails,  fifteen  hundred  feet  of  pine 
planks  and  joist.  Within  the  same  period,  the  arrival  of  the  same 
sloop  "Endeavor"  is  noted,  from  Hampton,  laden  with  hay. 
This  shows  one  of  the  little  rounds  of  the  coasting  trade.  The 
vessel  took  to  Boston  manufactured  lumber  sold  from  Exeter ; 
then  probably  returned  as  far  as  Hampton  with  merchandise,  the 
proceeds  of  the  sale,  which  was  there  exchanged  for  hay,  an  abso- 
lute necessity  to  the  lumbermen  of  Exeter,  who,  as  yet,  had  not 
mowing  land  enough  to  subsist  their  hard  worked  teams  through 
the  long  winters. 

As  time  went  on,  the  building  of  larger  vessels  became  an  im- 
portant and  profitable  industry  in  Exeter.  The  river  was  of  suffi- 
cient depth  to  allow  the  passage  of  a  ship  of  four  or  five  hundred 
tons,  and  few  so  large  were  required  for  the  commerce  of  the 
earlier  part  of  the  last  century.  Most  of  the  voyages  to  the  West 
Indies  and  across  the  Atlantic  were  made  in  vessels  of  not  more 
than  one-half  that  tonnage,  and  those  were  the  routes  most  com- 
mon and  most  profitable  to  the  New  England  merchants.  Some 
of  the  vessels  launched  from  the  Exeter  ship-yards  remained  the 
property  of  the  builders,  and  were  employed  in  commerce  between 
that  place  and  foreign  or  domestic  ports,  but  more  were  contracted 
for  by  Portsmouth  merchants,  or  sold  in  England  or  elsewhere. 

So  lucrative  had  this  branch  of  manufactures  become,  that 
shortly  after  the  middle  of    the  last  century  several    gentlemen 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  337 

of  energy  and  means  were  attracted  to  the  town  to  engage  in  it. 
Between  17.)0  and  17G0,  John  Montgomery,  a  partner  of  Joshua 
Wentworth  of  Portsmouth,  came  to  Exeter  and  set  up  in  the  busi- 
ness of  ship-buildiug  and  trade  in  lumber.  A  little  later,  Enoch 
Poor  of  Andover  moved  into  town,  and  engaged  in  the  same  call- 
ing. Charles  Ruudlett  and  Zebnlon  Giddinge  were  also  among  the 
ship-builders  of  that  day. 

In  1761  the  partnership  of  Oilman,  Folsom  &  Oilman  was 
formed,  which  dealt  extensively  in  lumber  and  built  many  vessels. 
Their  trade  with  the  ports  of  the  West  Indies  and  with  London 
was  more  considerable  than  that  of  any  other  concern  in  the  town. 
The  fifteen  or  twenty  years  before  the  Revolution  were  the  golden 
period  of  ship-building  in  Exeter.  As  many  as  twenty-two  ves- 
sels, great  and  small,  it  is  said,  have  been  upon  the  stocks  there 
in  a  single  season  ;  and  from  eight  to  ten  was  the  usual  annual 
product. 

The  water  side  must  have  presented  a  busy  scene  in  those  times. 
From  the  lower  falls  down  as  far  as  meeting-house  hill  on  the 
west  side  of  the  river,  ship  and  lumber-yards  stretched  almost 
continuously  between  the  stores  and  wharves.  On  the  streets,  a 
little  way  back,  were  blacksmith  shops,  where  the  roar  of  the 
forge  and  the  ringing  blows  of  the  hammer  were  heard  from  morn- 
ing till  night,  making  a  fitting  accompaniment  to  the  sounds  of 
the  shipwright's  adze  and  the  calker's  mallet  which  arose  from  the 
hulls  propped  up  on  the  ways,  waiting  the  hour  when  they  should 
take  their  plunge  into  the  element  for  which  they  were  destined. 
"Wages  were  good,  and  money  was  abundant.  From  the  lumber- 
man who  furnished  the  framework  to  the  nice  joiner  who  wrought 
the  elaborate  finish  of  the  cabin,  all  concerned  in  the  business  en- 
joyed their  increased  shares  of  comforts  and  luxuries,  and  devoutly 
drank  to  the  standing  toast,  —  success  to  ship-building. 

But  the  War  of  the  Revolution  put  a  stop  to  all  this  activity. 
Capitalists  would  not  risk  their  money  in  building  vessels  which 
could  not  sail  from  our  ports  without  the  risk  of  capture  by  the 
king's  armed  cruisers,  and  the  blacksmiths  and  ship  carpenters 
who  were  thrown  out  of  employment  enlisted  in  the  military  ser- 
vice or  entered  privateers.  Still,  a  few  vessels  were  kept  in  use. 
In  1776  Captain  Eliphalet  Ladd  was  permitted  by  the  Legislature 
to  make  a  voyage  to  two  or  three  West  India  ports,  on  condition 
that  he  should  bring  back,  if  procurable,  certain  military  stores 
for  the  use  of  the  State. 

22 


338  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

After  the  war  was  over,  sliip-buildiiig  was  resumed,  but  not  to 
the  same  extent  as  before.  Colonel  James  Hackett  was  employed 
in  it,  as  were  also  Joseph  Swasey,  Gideon  Lanison,  Daniel  Conner 
and  others. 

On  the  fourth  of  July,  1793,  we  are  informed  by  a  newspaper 
of  the  time,  "the  field  pieces  in  the  town  fired  salutes  in  honor 
of  the  day,  and  were  answered  from  the  Indiaman  now  on  the 
stocks,  being  beautifully  decorated  with  French  and  American 
colors."  In  his  sketch  of  Exeter,  in  1795,  Dr.  Samuel  Tenney 
stated  that  four  or  five  vessels  of  various  burdens  were  then  an- 
nually built  in  the  town,  and  about  the  same  number  were  em- 
ployed in  foreign  trade.  Among  the  deaths  recorded  in  an  Exeter 
paper  dated  August  20,  1799,  is  that  of  Mr.  Nathaniel  Cotton, 
aged  twenty-three,  "  on  board  schooner  Amity  of  this  port." 

The  ship-building  interest  gradually  decreased  in  the  town,  after 
the  coming  in  of  the  present  century,  though  the  manufacture  of 
sail-cloth  and  twine  and  many  blacksmiths'  shops  are  remem- 
bered by  our  oldest  citizens.  One  who  recently  deceased,  used  to 
describe  a  large  vessel  of  probably  five  hundred  tons  that  he  saw 
on  the  stocks,  the  bowsprit  of  which  projected  beyond  the  fronts 
of  the  adjacent  buildings,  into  Water  street,  between  Spring  and 
Centre  streets.  A  vessel  of  that  size  had  so  great  a  draft  of 
water  that  it  had  to  be  buoyed  up  by  empty  hogsheads  in  order  to 
pass  down  the  river  at  ordinary  tide. 

The  second  Avar  with  England,  and  the  measures  which  preceded 
it,  put  a  final  period  to  the  building  of  ships  in  Exeter.  For  a 
generation  the  occupation  which  had  formerly  been  so  prosperous 
fell  entirely  into  disuse.  But  in  the  year  1836,  a  schooner  of  from 
one  to  two  hundred  tons  was  set  upon  the  stocks  on  the  river  near 
meeting-house  hill,  and  launched,  fully  rigged.  The  enterprising 
builder  was  Nathan  Moulton  of  Hampton  Falls.  She  took  in  a 
cargo  of  potatoes,  and  sailed,  it  is  believed,  for  Philadelphia. 
"With  that  efl'ort,  it  is  feared  that  ship-building  in  Exeter  breathed 
its  last. 

The  river  has  long  ceased  to  be  the  great  thoroughfare  for  sup- 
plying the  town  with  necessaries  from  abroad.  The  railroads,  by 
the  inducements  of  greater  rapidity  and  cheapness,  have  appro- 
priated nine-tenths  of  that  kind  of  transportation.  But  many 
heavy  and  bulky  articles  still  come  up  the  river  from  Porstmouth 
by  the  old  conveyance  of  "  Furnald's  packet."  The  navigation  of 
the  channel  had  become  so  obstructed,  some  years  ago,  by  rocks 


jy 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  339 

and  shoals,  that  it  was  found  necessary  to  petition  Congress  for 
an  appropriation  for  its  improvement.  It  was  granted  and  wisely 
expended.  Coasters  now  bring  cargoes  of  coal  directly  to  the 
wharves  without  transshipment.  But  the  days  of  the  old-time 
activity  on  the  river  will  never  be  repeated,  unless  there  should  be 
a  reversion,  in  the  carriage  of  merchandise,  to  the  earlier  methods. 

POTTERY. 

The  potter's  art,  one  of  the  earliest  inventions  of  man,  must 
have  been  practised  in  Exeter  near  the  middle  of  the  last  century. 
Nathaniel  Libbee,  who  died  about  1756,  was  described  in  a  deed 
of  the  time  as  "potter."  Jabez  Dodge  was  established  in  busi- 
ness as  a  manufacturer  of  earthen-ware  in  1794,  and  advertised 
for  an  apprentice  in  June,  of  that  year,  From  that  time  to  the 
present,  the  business  has  been  maintained.  Among  those  con- 
cerned in  it  were  Samuel  Dodge,  William  Philbrick,  Oliver  Osborne, 
Samuel  Leavitt,  Asa  D^  Lamson  and  F.  H.  Lamson.  The  ware 
produced  was  generally  of  the  brown  kind,  for  household  use, 
although  the  present  proprietor  has  an  ambition  to  give  a  more 
artistic  character  to  his  work.  Mr.  Osborne  for  many  years  man- 
ufactured what  were  called  portable  furnaces  of  earthen-ware, 
which  answered  well  the  wants  of  the  housewife,  and  had  a  large 
sale. 

DUCK    MANUFACTORY. 

About  the  j^ear  1790  Thomas  Odiorne  began  in  Exeter  the  man- 
ufacture of  duck  or  sail  cloth,  the  first  in  the  State.  His  factory 
was  on  the  present  Green  street,  then  called  Carpenter's  lane, 
probably  from  the  fact  that  it  had  been  largely  occupied  by  ship 
carpenters.  The  only  power  employed  was  that  of  human  muscles. 
The  State  Legislature  encouraged  the  work  by  paying  a  bounty  of 
seven  shillings  on  each  bolt  of  duck  produced.  Eight  spinners  of 
warp,  and  about  the  same  number  of  weavers,  were  employed  in 
the  mill,  and  the  weft  was  spun  in  private  families.  After  a  few 
years  the  establishment  passed  into  the  hands  of  four  young  men 
who  prosecuted  the  business  for  a  time,  when  it  was  discontinued. 

SADDLERY    AND    CARRIAGES. 

The  manufacture  of  saddlery  was  early,  and  for  a  long  time 
one  of  the  principal  and  lucrative  industries  of  the  town.  It  was 
asserted,  at  the  close  of  the  last  century,  that  a  greater  quantity 


340  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

of  saddlery  was  made  iu  Exeter  thau  iii  any  other  place  north  of 
Philadelphia. 

The  first  light  carriage  used  iu  the  town,  according  to  tra- 
dition, was  introduced  by  the  Kev.  Daniel  Rogers,  about  the  year 
1754.  It  was  of  two  wheels,  and  without  a  top,  much  like  what, 
in  later  times,  was  termed  a  gig.  It  was  then  called  a  "  chair."* 
Before  that  time  Mr,  Rogers  always  rode  to  his  meetings  on  horse- 
back. A  fcAv  years  afterwards,  Brigadier  Peter  Gilman  brought 
into  town  the  first  fall-back  chaise  with  a  square  top.  Chaise, 
carriage  and  harness  making  became  subsequently  a  very  consid- 
erable business  in  Exeter,  for  a  long  period,  extending  from  the 
latter  part  of  the  last  century  down  to  near  the  present  time.  It 
is  still  carried  on,  but  not  to  the  same  extent  as  formerly. 

Among  the  most  considerable  past  and  present  manufacturers 
of  carriages  in  the  town  may  be  mentioned  J.  Coffin  Smith,  James 
and  William  Odliu,  John  Lamson,  Daniel  Williams,  George 
Smith,  Woodbridge  Odlin,  Robert  and  Henry  Shute,  William  and 
Joel  Lane,  Benjamin  Brown,  John  Dodge,  Daniel  and  James  F. 
Melcher,  Lewis  Mitchell,  Oliver  W.  Smith,  Head  and  Jewell, 
AVilliam  L.  Gooch,  E.  G.  and  J.  G.  Robinson,  J.  C.  Safford,  J. 
M.  Clark  and  A.  J.  Fogg. 

HATS  ;    WOOL  ;    LEATHER. 

Hat  making  was  an  important  trade  in  Exeter,  a  century  ago, 
when  it  was  conducted  in  comparatively  small  establishments  and 
before  the  aid  of  steam  had  been  called  in  to  expedite  the  work 
and  multiply  the  products.  The  family  of  Leavitts  are  said  to 
have  been  engaged,  for  two  or  three  generations,  in  this  branch  of 
industry.  Connected  with  it,  of  course,  was  the  traffic  in  furs  and 
skins.  This  latter,  in  process  of  time,  exceeded  the  other  part  of 
the  business  in  amount  and  consequence.  Theodore  Moses  and 
Abner  Merrill  were  two  prominent  men  of  the  town,  who  owed 
much  of  their  success  to  this  trade.  John  F.  Moses,  a  son  of  the 
former,  and  Jeremiah  L.,  Joseph  and  Benjamin  L.  Merrill,  sons 
of  the  latter,  became  afterwards  dealers  in  wool  on  a  large  scale, 
and  accumulated  much  property  from  it.  William  Lane,  Wood- 
bridge  Odlin  and  Luke  Julian  were  also  very  prosperous  wool 
merchants.  At  the  present  time  Henry  C.  Moses,  son  of  John  F. 
Moses,  and  George  N.  Julian,  son  of  Luke  Julian,  resident  in 
Exeter,  are  each  engaged  in  similar  business  iu  Boston. 


♦Tradition  errs  here.    Tlie  Kev.  Nicholas  Gilman  owned  a  "cliair''  in  1737. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  341 

Another  employment  which  flourished  for  some  time  in  the 
town,  was  that  of  tanning  and  currying  leather.  Academy  street, 
long  ago,  received  its  unsavory  alias  of  "Tan  lane"  from  being 
the  headquarters  of  this  industry.  Edmund  Pearson  is  one  of  the 
earliest  remembered  tanners,  and  his  son,  Nathaniel,  succeeded 
him.  Jeremiah  Dow,  Jeremiah  Robinson  and  Retire  H.  Parker 
were  among  the  principal  men  afterwards  concerned  in  the  busi- 
ness, in  the  same  street.  The  decline  of  that  interest  closed  one 
after  another  of  the  establishments,  and  the  burning  of  John  F. 
Moses's  morocco  factory  a  few  years  since  removed  the  last  vestige 
of  the  trade,  once  so  actively  and  profitably  pursued  in  that 
locality. 

The  manufacture  of  boots  and  shoes  for  a  while  occupied  a 
good  number  of  hands  in  Plxeter.  Stephen  L.  Gordon,  Jeremiah 
L.  Robinson  and  others  met  with  variable  degrees  of  success  in 
the  business,  but  it  never  took  a  very  firm  root  in  the  town,  in 
those  days.  Of  late  it  has  been  i'e-\'ived,  with  vastly  improved 
facilities  and  machinery.  The  Exeter  Boot  and  Shoe  Company 
have  added  within  a  few  years  a  new  and  productive  industry  to 
the  town,  and  are  reaping  an  assured  success  from  their  enterprise. 

James  Derby,  an  energetic  machinist,  started  several  undertak- 
ings in  Exeter,  about  half  a  century  since,  none  of  which,  how- 
ever, proved  permanent.  At  one  time  he  was  concerned  with 
others  in  book  publishing.  They  proposed  to  issue  the  Bible  with 
Scott's  commentaries,  in  six  or  eight  large  volumes  ;  but  having 
completed  the  New  Testament  in  two  volumes,  they  went  no 
farther.  He  set  in  operation  machine  works,  at  two  several 
times,  the  last  between  1840  and  1850,  in  the  brick  shops  on 
South  street.  Several  other  citizens  were  interested  with  him, 
there,  in  the  manufacture  of  steam  and  gas  pipes,  the  first  estab- 
lishment for  the  purpose  in  New  England,  as  was  alleged.  It 
was  subsequently  disposed  of  to  J.  B.  Richardson  and  S.  T.  San- 
born. Some  wooden  buildings  used  in  the  fabrication  of  the  pipe 
having  been  destroyed  by  fire,  the  proprietors  transferred  the  busi- 
ness to  Boston. 

The  brick  machine  shop  was  then  occupied  for  a  time  as  a 
brewery,  in  which  J.  M.  Lovering  and  I.  S.  Brown  were  inter- 
ested, but  the  undertaking  proved  unsuccessful.  It  has  been  used 
since  that  time  for  the  building  of  carriages. 

The  Exeter  Machine  Works  is  the  name  of  a  company  which 
has  existed  in  the  town  for  almost  a  generation.     Its  buildings. 


342  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

which  also  indude  an  iron  foundry,  are  situated  near  the  raih'oad 
station.  The  chief  manufactures  are  steam  engines,  sectional 
boilers,  shafting,  machinery,  etc.,  and  a  specialty  is  made  of 
steam  heating  apparatus.  The  work  of  the  company  is  widely 
and  favorably  known.  The  present  officers  are,  Charles  U.  Bell, 
president ;  William  Burlingame,  treasurer ;  C.  U.  Bell,  A.  G. 
Dewey,  W.  Burlingame  and  J.  K.  Burlingame,  directors. 

The  Brass  Works  of  E.  Folsom  &  Co.  have  been  in  operation 
about  twenty  years.  The  firm  manufacture  brass  and  iron  fittings, 
pipes  and  the  like,  for  steam,  water  and  gas.  Their  buildings  are 
near  those  of  the  Machine  Works,  and  their  business  has  always 
been  thoroughly  well  conducted.  The  partners  are  Ebeu  Folsom, 
Josiah  J.  Folsom  and  J.  F.  Wiggiu. 

The  Exeter  Gas  Light  Company,  mentioned  in  a  former  chap- 
ter, was  chartered  in  1854.  Their  works  are  situated  at  the 
corner  of  Green  and  AVater  streets.  The  officers  are  F.  H. 
Odiorne,  president,  Austin  M.  Copp,  treasurer,  and  Arthur  F. 
Cooper,  superintendent. 

The  Exeter  Water  Works  have  their  reservoirs  and  pumping 
apparatus  on  Portsmouth  avenue,  and  a  stand  pipe  on  Prospect 
hill.  The  officers  are  Edwin  G.  Eastman,  president,  Elbert 
Wheeler,  treasurer,  and  Charles  H.  Johnson,  collector. 

There  are  other  companies  and  business  establishments  in  the 
town,  worthy  of  mention,  as  the  Eockinghara  Machine  Company, 
turning  out  machines  for  burnishing  the  heels  of  boots  and  shoes, 
the  Tile  Drain  Manufactory  of  George  W.  Wiggin,  and  the  Exeter 
Coal  Company,  of  which  George  W.  Clark  is  agent.  It  is  not  the 
purpose  of  this  work,  however,  to  furnish  a  business  guide  or 
directory. 

THE    EAKLIER    MERCHANTS. 

Exeter,  being  at  the  head  of  tide  water  and  of  navigation,  se- 
cured early  an  important  trade  with  the  towns  farther  inland. 
This  it  has  never  entirely  lost,  though  the  springing  up  of  new 
centres  of  business  and  the  substitution  of  improved  modes  of 
transportation  of  merchandise,  have  tempted  the  more  distant 
places  to  carry  their  traffic  elsewhere. 

Several  of  the  early  merchants  have  been  named  in  the  account 
of  ship-building.  Indeed,  every  one  engaged  in  that  business 
dealt  also  in  the  commodities  which  his  workmen  required,  and 
furnished  them  with  necessaries  as  part  of  their  wages. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  343 

111  the  earlier  days,  not  far  from  the  middle  of  the  last  century, 
Colonel  Daniel  Oilman,  Samuel  Oilman,  Zebulon  Giddinge,  Dr. 
John  Giddinge  and  John  Phillips  were  among  the  other  principal 
merchants ;  then  followed  William  Elliot,  Peter  and  Eliphalet 
Coffin,  John  Emery,  Joseph  Lamson,  Jr.,  and  Ward  C.  Dean. 
Eliphalet  Ladd  began  to  trade  about  the  beginning  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, and  was  entex'prising  and  very  successful. 

At  a  later  date,  John  T.  Oilman,  Joseph  S.  Oilman,  Oilman 
and  Moses,  Gideon  Lamson  and  Simon  Wiggin  w^ere  among  the 
leading  men  in  business,  and  still  later,  John  Gardner,  Daniel 
Ranlet,  P^lliot  and  James,  Josiah  Oilman  Smith,  Charles  Conner, 
Nathaniel  Weeks,  S.  B.  Stevens,  William  II.  Clark,  Thomas 
Lovering,  Thomas  Conner,  and  Joseph  T.  Porter  of  the  firm  of 
Porter  and  Thyng. 

These,  of  course,  are  but  a  few,  and  perhaps  not  all  the  most 
important,  of  the  many  who  have  been  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits in  the  town.  The  list,  however,  includes  persons  whose 
business  lives  extend  over  the  period  of  more  than  a  century,  and 
down  to  a  date  within  the  memory  of  the  present  generation.  It 
would  be  impracticable  to  attempt  more,  here. 

One  business  house  is  exceptional  in  its  hereditary  character. 
Ward  Clark  Dean  commenced  trade  on  Water  street  about  the 
year  1770.  His  son-in-law,  John  Gardner,  entered  his  store  as 
his  clerk  soon  after  the  year  1800,  and  continued  with  him  until 
Mr.  Dean  retired  in  1823.  Mr.  Gardner  then  succeeded  him  in 
the  business  with  his  son,  George  Gardner,  as  his  partner  ;  George 
Gardner  continued  the  business  in  1848,  with  John  P.  P.  Kelly  as 
his  partner,  until  1857,  when  John  E.  Gardner,  the  great-grandson 
of  the  founder  of  the  business,  became  partner  of  Mr.  Kelly,  and 
has  so  remained  up  to  this  tune. 

It  ought  also  to  be  remembered,  to  the  credit  of  our  fathers, 
that  women  were  not  debarred,  in  the  olden  time,  from  their  nat- 
ural right  to  engage  in  merchandise.  The  widow  of  the  Rev. 
Nicholas  Oilman,  near  the  middle  of  the  last  century,  kept  a  shop, 
as  well  as  managed  a  considerable  landed  estate  ;  and  a  daughter 
of  Ward  Clai'k  Dean,  a  generation  or  more  later,  was  a  rival  of 
her  father  in  trade,  and  is  said  to  have  been  by  no  means  unsuc- 
cessful in  enticing  away  his  customers. 

BANKS. 

The  old  Exeter  Bank  was  chartered  in  1803.  Before  that  time 
money  accommodations  were  probably  obtainable  by  Exeter  people 


344  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

from  a  bank  iu  Portsmouth,  of  which  Oliver  Peabody,  and  after- 
wards John  T.  Gilman,  was  the  president. 

The  Exeter  Banli  had  originally  a  capital  of  two  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars.  Jeremiah  Smith  was  the  president,  and  Nathaniel 
Rogers  the  first  cashier.  Afterwai'ds,  John  Rogers  succeeded  to 
the  post  of  cashier ;  and  about  1830  Samuel  D.  Bell,  for  about 
five  years  ;  and  then  Timothy  Farrar,  who  continued  in  it  until 
the  charter  of  the  bank  expired  by  limitation  ;  it  having  been  re- 
newed iu  1824  for  the  term  of  twenty  years. 

The  Exeter  Bank  was  kept  in  a  building  of  one  story  at  the 
corner  of  Centre  and  Water  streets,  afterwards  occupied  for  a 
number  of  years  by  the  Atlantic  and  Rockingham  Fire  Insurance 
Companies.  The  bank  had  quite  a  history.  In  its  earlier  days 
the  cashier  had  occasion  once  to  be  absent  from  his  post,  and  re- 
quested Mr.  L.,  one  of  the  directors,  to  take  his  place.  That 
gentleman,  very  obligingly  consented,  though  entirely  inexpe- 
rienced in  the  duties.  This  was  before  the  time  wheu  country 
banks  had  arrangements  with  banks  in  the  city  to  redeem  their 
circulation,  and  when  they  were  liable  to  be  called  upon  at  any 
time  to  pay  a  considerable  amount  of  their  own  bills  in  other  money. 
So  the  cashier  left  in  the  drawer  a  sutticient  sum  to  meet  such  a 
demand. 

While  the  temporary  cashier  was  in  control,  a  person  entered 
the  bank  and  presented  a  draft  for  two  hundred  dollars  and  up- 
wards for  payment,  and  received  for  it  four  bills,  supposed  by  Mr. 
L.  to  be  for  fifty  dollars,  but  in  reality  for  five  hundred  dollars 
each,  and  the  balance  in  smaller  curreucy.  The  receiver  took 
away  the  money,  but  soon  after  returned  and  asked  Mr.  L.  if  the 
bank  rectified  mistakes.  "  No,  sir,"  said  the  quasi  cashier,  "  after 
a  man  has  taken  his  money  and  gone  out,  no  mistakes  are  cor- 
rected."    The  customer  departed. 

When  the  cashier  returned  home  and  reckoned  up  the  day's 
business,  he  found  his  cash  eighteen  liundred  dollars  short.  lie 
interrogated  his  substitute,  who  told  him  about  the  transaction 
mentioned.  "  Where  did  you  get  the  fifty  dollar  bills  from?"  in- 
quired the  cashier.  The  partition  was  pointed  out.  "Those,"  said 
the  cashier,  "are  bills  for  five  hundred  dollars."  The  other  was 
astounded,  and  said  he  did  not  know  that  there  were  any  of  that 
denomination. 

The  bank  called  upon  the  person  who  had  thus  been  overj^aid, 
to  refund  the  money.     But  he  refused,  probably  salving  his  con- 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  345 

science  with  the  answer  made  liim  at  the  time,  that  "no  mistakes 
were  corrected."  The  bank  brougtit  a  suit  against  him  to  compel 
restoration.  The  matter  was  bittcrl}'  contested,  for  the  defendant 
had  influential  friends.  In  the  end  the  bank  recovered  back  the 
amount  of  the  overpayment.  But  a  little  episode  at  the  trial  is 
worth  relating.  The  jury  were  sent  out  into  their  room  to  delib- 
erate upon  the  case  just  at  nightfall.  It  was  found  that  there  was 
a  wide  dilference  of  opinion  among  them.  So  they  fell  to  arguing 
the  matter.  One  of  their  number,  a  small  tradesman,  who  was 
used  to  going  to  bed  earlj^,  grew  drowsy,  ard  quietly  lay  down 
upon  a  bench  in  a  dark  corner  and  Avent  to  sleep.  His  absence 
was  not  noticed  by  the  others,  and  they  continued  to  discuss  the 
questions  in  the  case  till  well  towards  morning.  The  arguments 
advanced  by  those  who  favored  the  defendant  were  one  by  one 
overthrown  and  abandoned,  and  at  length  it  appeared  that  there 
was  no  one  who  would  not  acquiesce  in  a  verdict  for  the  bank.  A 
ballot  was  then  taken,  when  it  appeared  that  only  eleven  had  voted. 
The  sleeper  was  roused.  The  foreman  explained  the  question  to 
him.  "  Well,"  said  he,  "I  am  in  favor  of  giving  the  defendant  a 
verdict."  The  foreman  answered,  that  there  were  others  of  the 
jury  who  were  at  first  of  the  same  opinion,  but  after  fully  consid- 
ering the  case  they  had  one  after  another  changed  their  minds,  and 
were  now  all  in  favor  of  the  plaintiff.  "Well,"  said  the  accom- 
modating juror,  "  if  you  gentlemen  have  been  discussing  this  matter 
all  night,  and  have  all  agreed  for  the  plaintitf,  you  may  put  me 
down  for  the  plaintiff  too." 

The  old- Exeter  Bank  was  doubtless  extremely  well  managed,  for 
its  time.  But  a  modern  cracksman  would  laugh  to  scorn  its  pro- 
tections against  plunder.  Its  locks  were  primitive,  with  keys  that 
were  large  enough  for  weapons  of  offence.  Now-a-days  they 
would  not  stand  an  hour  against  a  burglar.  But  in  1828  the  art 
of  breaking  banks  was  in  its  infancy.  And  when  a  gang  of  thieves 
from  Rhode  Island  robbed  the  Exeter  Bank,  as  they  did  in  that 
year,  they  found  it  necessary  to  take  at  least  two  or  three  weeks 
to  make  the  necessary  preparations.  It  is  a  wonder  that  their 
purpose  was  not  discovered.  They  had  one  or  two  huts  or  haunts 
in  the  neighboring  woods  where  they  remained  and  prepared  their 
false  keys  by  day,  and  at  night  came  into  the  village  and  tested 
their  work,  in  the  locks  of  the  bank.  At  length  they  succeeded 
in  entering  the  stone  vault,  and  took  therefrom  about  thirt}^  thou- 
sand dollars  in  bills,  and  some  hard  money,  with  which  they  made 


346  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

off.  The  story  of  the  detection  of  the  guilty  parties  is  a  long  one, 
and  much  of  tlie  ingenuity  displayed  in  the  process,  does  not 
appear  in  the  published  report  of  the  trial.  A  quantity  of  the 
money  was  found  hidden  under  a  stone  wall.  The  stolen  bills 
that  they  passed  were  a  chief  means  of  fastening  the  crime  upon 
the  robbers  ;  and  it  is  said  that  some  incrusted  silver  coin  which 
Ebenezer  Clifford  had  brought  up  in  his  diving-bell  from  a  wrecked 
ship  at  the  bottom  of  the  ocean,  and  deposited  in  the  bank,  fur- 
nished another  clue.  It  is  sufHcient  to  say  that  the  depredators 
were  discovered,  and  brought  to  trial,  and'  after  a  full  hearing 
sentenced  to  imprisonment,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  stolen 
property  was  recovered. 

The  P^xeter  Savings  Bank  was  incorporated  in  1828,  and  man- 
aged in  connection  with  the  Exeter  Bank.  John  Houston  was  the 
first  president  and  Samuel  D.  Bell,  treasurer.  Afterwards  William 
Perry  was  chosen  president,  and  Timothy  Farrar,  treasurer.  The 
business  of  the  Savings  Bank  was  in  1842  wound  up  and  closed, 
but  in  1851  it  was  revived,  and  carried  on  in  the  building  of  the 
Granite  State  Bank.  Woodbridge  Odlin  was  chosen  president 
and  Samuel  H.  Stevens,  treasurer,  who  was  afterwards  succeeded 
by  N.  Appletou  Shute.  Upon  the  flight  of  the  latter  in  1873, 
after  having  embezzled  a  great  part  of  the  funds,  the  Savings 
Bank  went  into  the  hands  of  a  receiver,  and  the  residue  of  its 
assets  were  distributed  ratably  among  the  depositors. 

The  second  bank  of  discount  in  the  town  was  incorporated  in 
1830,  and  styled  the  Granite  Bank.  Its  capital  was  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  John  Harvey  was  the  president  until  about 
1844,  when  James  Bell  was  chosen.  James  Burley  was  the 
cashier.  It  continued  in  business  until  1851  and  was  then  re- 
chartered  under  the  name  of  the  Granite  State  Bank,  and  the 
capital  was  reduced  one-half.  Moses  Sanborn  was  then  made 
president,  and  Samuel  H.  Stevens,  cashier.  Joseph  T.  Gilraan 
afterwards  became  president,  and  N.  Ap])leton  Shute,  cashier. 
After  Mr.  Gilman's  death  in  1862,  Abner  Merrill  was  elected 
president,  and  held  the  office  until  1877,  the  bank  in  the  mean- 
time having  been  organized  under  the  national  laws.  Mr.  Merrill 
was  succeeded  in  the  office  of  president  by  his  three  sons,  in  turn, 
Jeremiah  L.  Merrill,  Benjamin  L.  Merrill  and  Charles  A.  Merrill. 
In  January,  1873,  the  cashier,  N.  Appleton  Shute,  became  a 
defaulter  to  a  large  amount  and  fled  the  country.  The  deficit  was 
made  up  by  the  stockholders  and  the  bank  kept  on,  Warren  F. 
Putnam  being  chosen  cashier. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER,  347 

After  the  decease  of  Dr.  Charles  A.  Merrill,  Benjamin  F. 
Folsom  was  chosen  president,  and  subsequently  Charles  E.  Bying- 
ton  was  elected  cashier  in  place  of  W.  F.  Putnam.  They  still  hold 
their  offices.  The  directors  of  the  Granite  State  National  Bank 
are  Benjamin  F.  Folsom,  Eben  Folsom,  John  E.  Gardner,  "Warren 
F.  Putnam  and  Amos  C.  Chase  ;  and  there  is  one  vacancy. 

In  18G8  the  Union  Five  Cents  Savings  Bank  was  incorporated, 
and  opened  with  Joshua  Getchell  as  president  and  Joseph  S. 
Parsons  as  treasurer.  The  successive  presidents  since  have  been 
William  B.  Morrill,  Charles  Burley,  William  P.  Moulton  and  W. 
H.  C.  Follansby  ;  the  treasurers,  Frank  P.  Cram  and  Sarah  C. 
Clark. 

After  the  Exeter  Savings  Bank  went  into  the  receiver's  hands 
in  1873,  the  Squamscot  Savings  Bank  was  incorporated.  Its  first 
president  was  Obadiah  Duston,  who  was  followed  by  Joseph 
Janvrin.  George  B.  Webster  is  now  the  president,  Francis 
Hilliard,  treasurer,  and  William  H.  Belknap,  cashier. 

INSURANCE    COMPANIES. 

Fifty  years  ago,  when  mutual  insurance  was  in  vogue,  Exeter 
was  quite  a  centre  for  that  business.  In  1832  was  incorporated 
the  Rockingham  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company,  of  which  Na- 
thaniel Gilman,  Jr.,  was  made  president,  John  T.  Burnham,  sec- 
retary, and  James  Burley,  treasurer.  In  1837  John  Harvey  was 
chosen  president,  and  in  1838,  Timothy  Farrar.  In  1839  there 
was  a  change  of  directors,  attended  with  some  feeling,  but  the 
president  and  secretary  remained  in  office,  with  John  Sullivan  as 
treasurer.  In  1843  James  Burley  was  elected  president,  Isaac  L. 
Folsom,  secretary,  and  Jeremiah  Dearborn,  treasurer.  This  board 
of  officers  continued  till  about  1852,  when  Moses  Sanborn  became 
president,  William  P.  Moulton,  secretary,  and  John  Tyrrell, 
treasurer.  Five  j^ears  afterwards,  John  S.  Wells  was  chosen  to 
the  presidency,  and  Joseph  C.  Hilliard  to  the  treasurership,  Wil- 
liam P.  Moulton  remaining  secretary.  The  company  had  been 
very  successful,  and  issued  policies  on  a  large  amount  of  property. 

The  Atlantic  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  was  chartered  in 
1847.  Its  business  must  have  been  limited  prior  to  1856,  when 
we  find  that  it  was  managed  by  the  same  executive  officers  as  the 
Eockingham.  This  continued  to  be  the  case  for  several  years. 
Charles   Conner   succeeded  John  S.  Wells  as  president  of  both 


348  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

companies  about  1863,  and  remained  with  W.  P.  Moulton  and 
J.  C.  Hilliard  as  officers  of  the  Rockingham  until  about  1866, 
when  its  affairs  were  wound  up.  The  business  of  the  Atlantic  was 
carried  on  with  Charles  Conner  as  president,  and  Josepli  S.  Parsons 
as  secretary  and  treasurer,  until  about  1871,  wlaen  that  company, 
too,  succumbed  to  the  growing  preference  for  insurance  in  stock 
companies. 

The  Rockingham  Farmers'  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  was 
incorporated  in  1833.  For  some  years  little  was  heard  of  it,  but 
in  1856  William  Conner  was  its  president,  William  P.  Moulton, 
the  secretary,  and  Joseph  C.  Hilliard,  treasurer.  John  S.  Wells 
succeeded  Mr.  Conner  as  president,  and  was  succeeded  by  Charles 
Conner.  Then  William  Conner  was  again  chosen  president,  and 
held  the  office  until  his  decease  a  year  or  two  since.  Charles  E. 
Lane  was  secretary  and  treasurer  a  few  years,  and  then  George 
W.  Wiggin  was  elected,  about  1866,  to  those  offices,  and  held 
them  till  1874.  The  present  officers  are  George  B.  Webster,  pres- 
ident, and  Henry  A.  Shute,  secretary  and  treasurer.  As  its  name 
imports,  this  company  confines  its  insurance  to  farm  buildings,  or 
equivalent  risks.     It  is  now  the  oldest  company  in  the  town. 

In  1885  the  insurance  of  property  in  New  Hampshire  against 
fire,  was  mostly  in  stock  companies  existing  out  of  the  State.  On 
account  of  a  law  enacted  by  the  Legislature  in  that  year,  they,  by 
a  concerted  action,  determined  to  take  no  more  risks  in  New 
Hampshire.  It  became  necessary,  therefore,  that  other  means  of 
insurance  should  be  provided  at  home,  and  without  delay. 

The  Exeter  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  was  the  first  new 
company  organized  in  the  State  to  meet  the  new  condition  of 
things.  It  was  put  in  operation  under  the  general  law  of  the 
State  on  the  fifteenth  day  of  October,  1886.  Charles  H.  Bell  was 
chosen  president,  and  Arthur  B.  Fuller,  secretary  and  treasurer. 
In  1887  Mr.  Fuller  resigned  his  offices,  and  George  W.  Weston 
was  elected  in  his  place.  This  and  the  Rockingham  Farmers'  are 
the  only  insurance  companies  now  in  the  town. 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 
JUDGES  AND  LAWYERS. 

John  Oilman,  the  second  sou  of  Edward  Gilman,  Sr.,  bOrn  in 
England  January  10,  1624,  came  to  Exeter  before  1650,  and 
immediately  became  a  prominent  citizen.  From  the  first  he  was 
concerned  with  his  brother  Edward  in  mills  and  lumber.  After 
IMward  was  lost  at  sea  in  1653,  he  inherited  much  of  the  latter's 
property,  and  took  his  place  in  developing  the  resources  of  the 
town.  He  was  chosen  selectman  more  than  one-half  the  years 
between  1650  and  1680;  was  repeatedly  elected  commissioner  to 
end  small  causes  ;  and  appointed  upon  committees  to  care  for  the 
town's  interests.  He  had  several  handsome  grants  of  land  from 
the  town,  and  a  special  right  of  a  grist-mill.  In  the  two  years 
before  New  Hampshire  was  emancipated  from  the  Massachusetts 
government  he  held  the  office  of  associate  (judge)  of  the  old 
Norfolk  county  court. 

In  1680  Mr.  Gilman  was  made  a  councillor  of  the  newly  erected 
province  of  New  Hampshire,  and  in  1682  a  judge  of  the  Court  of 
Pleas  ;  but  in  1683  he  was  by  Governor  Cranfield  relieved  of  both 
offices.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  his  reputation  in  the  province 
did  not  suffer  by  reason  of  his  removal.  In  1693  he  was  chosen 
by  his  townsmen  a  delegate  to  the  Assembly,  and  was  made 
Speaker  of  the  House,  and  again  chosen  in  1697. 

He  married,  June  30,  1657,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  James 
Treworgy  (from  which  came  the  popular  Christian  name  of  True- 
worthy),  and  had  six  sons  and  ten  daughters,  and  very  numerous 
descendants.  He  built  the  "log  house"  opposite  the  Great 
bridge,  which  is  still  standing.     He  died  July  24,  1708. 

Robert  Wadleigh  was  accepted  as  an  inhabitant  of  Exeter  Sep- 
tember 26,  1676,  at  which  time  he  probably  removed  there  with 
his  family.  He  was  then  a  man  of  mature  years,  and  had  five 
sons,  some  of  them  tending  towards  manhood.  He  had  lived  in 
Wells,  Maine,  more  than  twenty  years  before,  and  in  1666  pur- 

351 


352  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

chased  a  considerable  tract  of  land  at  a  place  since  known  as 
Wadleigli's  falls  on  Lamprey  river  in  the  present  town  of  Lee,  one- 
half  of  which  he  conveyed  to  Nicholas  Listen.  There  Mr.  Wad- 
leio-h  lived  until  he  came  to  Exeter.  He  soon  became  known  to 
the  people  of  Exeter,  and  was  chosen  to  responsible  positions.  In 
1680  he  was  a  deputy  to  the  General  Assembly,  of  which  he  acted 
as  clerk.  In  1681  the  inhabitants  made  him  a  grant  of  two  hun- 
dred acres  of  land,  and  the  next  year  his  tax  was  the  highest  in 
the  town. 

A  year  afterwards  he  was  sued  by  an  agent  of  Mason,  probably 
for  the  possession  of  some  of  his  lands,  and  by  exceptional  good 
fortune  won  the  verdict  of  the  jur3^  His  antagonist  took  an 
appeal  to  the  king,  upon  which  Wadleigh  determined  to  go  himself 
to  England  to  look  after  his  interests.  He  had  a  further  reason 
for  so  doing,  in  the  fact  that  his  three  sons  were  at  tliat  time 
under  condemnation  for  taking  part  in  "  Gove's  rebellion  "  against 
Governor  C'ranfield's  tyrannical  administration.  The  impression 
which  Wadleigh  made  upon  the  Privy  Council  must  have  been 
favorable,  for  he  was,  after  his  return,  appointed  a  justice  of  the 
peace  and  councillor  of  the  province,  doubtless  on  their  recom- 
mendation. 

Mr.  Wadleigh  continued  to  receive  marks  of  the  confidence  of 
his  townsmen,  and  of  the  provincial  authorities.  In  1692  he  was 
appointed  one  of  the  justices  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and, 
a  year  afterwards,  a  judge  of  the  Superior  Court.  This  position 
he  continued  to  fill  until  1697.  He  died  iu  Exeter  not  far  from 
the  year  1700.  His  descendants  are  somewhat  numerous,  and  the 
name  is  still  kept  up  in  the  town  and  vicinity. 

Kinsley  Hall  was  a  son  of  Ralph  Hall,  one  of  the  signers  of  the 
Combination,  and  was  born  iu  Exeter  in  1652.  He  was  a  captain 
in  the  militia,  an  offlce  then  of  no  small  repute,  and  served  the 
town  in  various  capacities,  which  denote  the  popular  appreciation 
of  his  ability  and  intelligence.  He  was  one  of  the  selectmen  for 
some  years,  moderator,  and  deputy  to  the  General  Assembly  in 
1694  and  1695.  He  was  also  a  councillor  of  the  province, 
appointed  iu  1698,  and  a  judge  of  the  Superior  Court  from  1697 
to  1698,  and  again  from  1698  to  1699.  He  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Dudley,  and,  after  her  decease,  a 
second  wife,  and  had  several  children,  by  whom  the  name  has 
been  preserved  in  the  town  until  very  recently.  Judge  Hall  died 
in  1736. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  353 

Peter  Coffin  was  born  in  Devonshire,  England,  in  1630  or  1631. 
He  came  to  this  conutry  young,  and  removed  to  Dover  before 
1650.  There  he  became  a  merchant,  and  was  interested  with 
IMajor  Richard  Waldron  in  a  trucking  house  for  dealing  with  the 
Indians.  He  was  a  lieutenant  in  service  in  Philip's  Indian  war, 
and  was  elected  while  in  Dover  .to  various  town  offices,  and  re- 
ceived some  of  the  minor  judicial  appointments.  He  was  quite 
successful  in  the  accumulation  of  property.  In  1689  when  the 
garrisons  at  Dover  were  attacked  by  the  savages  and  Major 
Wuldron  was  killed,  Mr.  Coffin's  house  was  entered,  and  the 
Indians  compelled  him  to  scatter  among  them  handfuls  of  silver 
money,  of  Avhich  they  found  a  bag  full,  that  they  might  scramble 
for  it. 

He  fortunately  escaped  from  their  hands.  Shortly  afterwards 
his  house  and  buildings  were  burned,  and  he  removed  to  Exeter 
in  16'J0,  and  was  received  an  inhabitant  by  a  vote  of  the  town, 
and  land  was  granted  him  for  a  wharf.  He  immediately  engaged 
in  business  there,  and  was  selected  by  the  town  to  serve  on  impor- 
tant committees,  and  twice  chosen  moderator.  In  1692  he  was 
appointed  a  councillor  of  the  province,  and  in  1697  Chief  Justice 
of  the  Superior  Court.  This  position  he  held  for  a  year,  and  until 
a  change  of  governors.  In  1699  he  was  commissioned  an  asso- 
ciate justice  of  the  same  court,  and  continued  in  office  until  1712. 

He  died  March  21,  1715,  and  this  obituary  notice  was  published 
in  The  Boston  Neios  Letter  of  March  25  : 

On  Monday  the  21st  current,  died  at  Exeter  the  honorable  Peter 
Coffin,  Esq.,  in  the  85th  year  of  his  age,  who  was  late  judge  of  his 
Majest3''s  Superior  Court  of  judicature,  and  first  member  of  his 
Majesty's  Council  of  this  province,  a  gentleman  very  serviceable 
both  in  Church  and  State. 

He  left  five  sons  and  four  daughters.  His  son  Robert,  born  in 
1667,  resided  in  Exeter,  and  married  Joanna,  daughter  of  John 
Gilman,  and  widow  of  Henry  D^^er.  He  died  in  1710  without 
issue.  His  sou  Tristram  also  lived  in  Exeter  and  had  four  chil- 
dren, of  whom  two,  daughters,  married  Bartholomew  and  Benja- 
min, sons  of  Jonathan  Thing. 

Richard  Hilton  was  a  son  of  Captain  William  Hilton  and  grand- 
son of  Edward  Hilton,  and  lived  in  that  part  of  Exeter  which  is 
now  South  Newmarket.  He  served  as  one  of  the  selectmen  for 
seven   years,  between  1693  and  1715,    and  was  a  judge  of  the 

23 


354  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Superior  Court  in  1698  and  1699.  Little  is  known  of  him  besides, 
except  that  he  married  his  cousin  Ann,  daughter  of  Edward 
Hilton,  Jr. 

Nicholas  Gilman  was  a  son  of  Councillor  John  Oilman,  and  was 
born  in  Exeter  December  26,  1678.  He  was  a  farmer  and  mer- 
chant. He  lived  in  Exeter  village  on  the  south  side  of  Front 
street,  on  the  spot  where  the  late  John  Williams  built  his  brick 
house,  afterwards  occupied  by  Isaac  Flagg.  In  1729  he  was  com- 
missioned a  justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  held  his 
seat  on  that  bench  for  about  a  year,  when  he  resigned  in  order  to 
give  his  whole  time  to  his  private  business.  But  in  1732,  on  re- 
ceiving the  appointment  of  judge  of  the  Superior  Court,  he  ac- 
cepted it  and  performed  the  duties  until  1740,  and  then  retired 
to  private  life.  He  died  in  1741,  leaving  children,  several  of 
whom  occupied  distinguished  positions.  He  was  a  man  of  large 
property,  and  the  owner  of  several  slaves. 

Samuel  Gilman  was  a  son  of  the  foregoing,  and  was  born  in 
Exeter  May  1,  1698.  He  was  twice  married  and  had  children, 
who  all  died  before  him.  He  had  an  ample  estate,  and  lived  in 
the  house  on  the  south  side  of  Water  street,  afterwards  the  home 
of  Judge  Oliver  Peabody.  He  kept  a  public  house  there  for  a 
number  of  years,  was  a  colonel  in  the  militia,  and  was  appointed 
to  the  bench  of  the  Superior  Court  the  same  year  that  his  father 
left  it.  He  discharged  his  judicial  duties  for  seven  years.  All 
accounts  agree  in  representing  him  to  be  a  man  of  the  highest 
character,  universally  respected  and  esteemed.  He  lived  to  the 
age  of  eighty-six. 

None  of  the  above-named  judges  of  the  highest  provincial  court 
were  educated  as  lawyers.  And  the  custom  of  appointing  to  that 
responsible  position  men  of  sound  sense,  business  knowledge  and 
uprightness,  without  regard  to  their  legal  knowledge,  was  contin- 
ued for  many  years  after  this  time,  mainly,  it  is  supposed,  for  the 
want  of  enough  suitable  men  educated  to  the  profession.  But,  for 
the  purposes  of  the  time,  the  appointments  were  quite  satisfactory. 

The  first  trained  lawyer  in  Exeter  was  Nicholas  Perryman.  He 
was  born  in  England  December  24,  1692,  but  emigrated  quite 
young,  after  the  death  of  his  parents,  and  appeared  in  Exeter 
between  1710  and  1720.  Where  he  received  his  education  is  not 
known,  but  that  it  was  not  neglected  is  apparent  from  the  fact 
that  he  was  employed  as  master  of  the  grammar  or  classical  school 
from  1716  to  1718.     With  whom  he  pursued  his  legal  studies  does 


IIISTOKY  OF  EXETER.  3o5 

not  appear.  But  as  early  as  1730  he  seems  to  have  been  fully 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  law.  He  was  repeatedly  employed 
by  the  town  in  suits,  and  in  contested  matters  in  the  Assembly. 
He  was  the  chief  conveyancer  of  th(?  inhabitants,  and  his  work  was 
neatly  executed  and  correctly  expressed,  so  far  as  it  has  been  ob- 
served. He  mairied  Joanna,  daughter  of  Stephen  Dudley,  and 
granddaughter  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Dudley,  by  whom  he  had  four 
children,  all  of  whom  he  outlived  except  one  daughter,  who  mar- 
ried Noah  Emery.     He  died  in  Exeter  August  9,  1757. 

Noah  Emery  was  a  son  of  a  lawyer  of  the  same  nan)e,  and  was 
born  in  Kittery,  Maine,  December  '2^^  1725.  He  must  have  come 
to  P^xeter  before  his  maturity,  for  he  married  Joanna,  the  daughter 
of  Nicholas  Ferryman,  March  20,  1745,  she  then  being  but  four- 
teen years  of  age  and  he  under  twenty.  He  studied  his  profession 
with  his  father-in-law,  and  probably  was  associated  with  him  in 
business  during  the  latter  part  of  his  life.  The  amount  of  purely 
legal  business  at  that  time  must  have  been  small,  and  it  is  likely 
that  they  added  to  it  trade  or  other  sources  of  profit.  But  Mr. 
Emery  doubtless  had  his  fair  share  of  such  professional  employ- 
ment as  there  was. 

When  the  Revolution  broke  out  he  took  sides  warmly  with  the 
patriotic  party,  and  was  chosen  a  delegate  to  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, of  which  he  also  served  as  clerk.  He  was  prominent  enough 
to  be  appointed  upon  some  of  the  most  important  committees  in 
that  body  and  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  into  which  it 
resolved  itself. 

In  1776  Mr.  Emery  was  commissioned  clerk  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas,  and  held  the  office  until  his  death  in  1787.  He 
left  five  sons  and  four  daughters.  His  son  of  the  same  name 
succeeded  him  in  the  clerkship. 

William  Parker  was  a  son  of  Judge  William  Parker  of  Ports- 
mouth, where  he  was  born  in  1731.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Har- 
vard College  in  1751,  and  after  being  employed  as  a  teacher  for  a 
while,  studied  law  with  his  father,  and  commenced  practice  in 
Exeter  in  1765,  He  was  able,  well  read  and  possessed  of  no 
small  store  of  ready  wit,  but  was  afflicted  with  an  unconquerable 
diffidence  which  prevented  him  from  taking  part  in  oral  trials,  so 
that  his  employment  was  chiefly  confined  to  office  work.  But  he 
stood  high  in  the  estimation  of  the  community,  who  bestowed 
upon  him  a  fair  share  of  remunerative  business. 


35G  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

AVhen  the  Revolution  swept  away  the  old  reijtme  in  the  State, 
his  father  was  removed  from  the  office  of  Register  of  Probate,  and 
the  sou,  who  was  identified  with  the  popular  movement,  was  ap- 
pointed in  his  place,  and  was  continued  in  the  post  until  his  death 
in  1813,  on  which  his  son  John  J.  Parker  was  chosen  register  and 
remained  so  through  his  life  until  1831.  Thus  three  generations 
of  this  family  held  the  office  continuously  for  near  a  century. 

In  1790  Mr.  Parker  was  connnissioned  judge  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas,  and  retained  the  position  t^l  1807  when  he  was 
more  than  seventy-five  years  of  age.  The  new  constitution, 
adopted  after  his  appointment,  declared  that  the  commissions  of 
judges  should  be  void  when  they  reached  the  age  of  seventy,  but 
it  was  an  open  question  whether  that  provision  applied  to  cases 
like  his.  The  Legislature  settled  the  question  by  passing  an  ad- 
dress for  his  removal ;  not  because  of  any  dissatisfaction,  however, 
with  him  or  his  official  conduct.  He  died,  universally  esteemed  and 
respected,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one. 

John  Pickering,  a  lawyer  of  eminence,  afterwards  Chief  Justice 
of  the  State,  and  judge  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States, 
resided  in  Exeter  for  one  or  two  years  during  the  Revolution. 
Whether  he  came  with  the  intention  of  making  tlie  place  his  per- 
manent home,  or  to  be  in  a  more  congenial  atmosphere  during  the 
contest  between  tlie  provinces  and  the  mother  country,  is  a  matter 
of  conjecture.  He  was  taxed  as  a  citizen  in  1778,  and  the  same 
year  was  chosen  by  the  town  a  delegate  to  the  convention  to  revise 
the  constitution  of  the  State.  Though  Mr.  Pickering  was  known 
as  a  friend  to  the  liberties  of  his  country,  he  appears  to  have  been 
a  little  timid  in  taking  steps  that  might  compromise  him  with  the 
loyal  party.  In  1774  he  was  chosen  by  the  Provincial  Congress  a 
delegate  to  the  Continental  Congress.  He  publicly  declined  the 
honor,  upon  the  plea  that  the  court  was  coming  on,  and  his  en- 
gagements to  his  clients  would  not  permit  him  to  be  absent.  John 
Sullivan  was  elected  in  his  place,  who,  in  thanlving  the  convention, 
remarked,  with  a  sly  glance  at  Pickering,  that  he,  too,  had  his 
court  engagements,  but  he  regarded  his  duties  to  his  clients  as  of 
small  moment  in  comparison  to  his  higher  duties  to  his  country  in 
that  time  of  trial.  The  impression  was  general  that  Pickering's 
patriotism  was  of  rather  a  faint-hearted  kind. 

Oliver  Peabody  was  the  son  of  a  man  of  tlie  same  name,  and 
was  born  in  Andover,  Massachusetts,  September  2,  1753.  He 
graduated  from  Harvard  College  in  1773  ;  studied  law  in  the  office 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  357 

of  the  distinguished  Theophihis  Parsons,  and  began  practice  in 
Exeter  about  the  year  1778.  He  was  a  careful  and  diligent 
student,  and  a  faithful  and  punctual  practitioner.  His  business 
capacity  was  appreciated  by  the  community,  and  his  personal 
qualities,  his  amiable  disposition  and  courtesy  of  manner  gave 
him  much  popularity.  A  great  part  of  his  life  was  passed  in  pub- 
lic stations.  From  1789,  for  several  years,  he  was  annually  chosen 
treasurer  of  the  county  ;  and  in  1790  he  was  elected  State  senator, 
but  resigned  his  seat  to  accept  the  appointment  of  Judge  of 
Probate.  After  holding  that  position  three  years,  he  was  again 
elected  to  the  State  Senate  two  successive  years,  in  the  latter  of 
which  he  presided  over  that  body.  He  again  resigned  the  senator- 
ship  on  being  chosen  treasurer  of  the  State,  Avhich  he  continued  to 
be  for  nearly  ten  j^ears.  The  next  year  he  was  made  sheriff  of 
the  county,  and  held  that  post  five  years.  Again  elected  to  the 
State  Senate,  he  was  appointed  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas,  and  remained  upon  the  bench  until  the  re-organization  of 
the  judiciary  of  the  State  in  1816. 

In  addition  to  all  these,  he  held  other  positions  of  trust  of  com- 
paratively private  character.  Yet  Judge  Peabody  was  no  office 
seeker.  He  had  pressed  upon  him  other  and  more  important  posi- 
tions, any  of  which,  in  all  probability,  he  might  have  obtained 
had  he  consented  to  be  a  candidate,  but  declined  them.  He  was 
fond  of  social  and  domestic  life,  and  had  no  desire  for  anything 
that  would  separate  him  from  that. 

He  died  in  Exeter  August  3,  1831.  He  was  the  father  of  the 
two  distinguished  twin  brothers,  Oliver  W.  B.  and  William  B.  O. 
Peabody,  and  of  the  wife  of  Alexander  H.  Everett. 

Nathaniel  Parker  was  a  son  of  Judge  William  Parker,  then  of 
East  Kingston  and  afterwards  of  Exeter,  and  was  born  October 
22,  1760.  He  obtained  his  education  in  the  excellent  schools  of 
Exeter,  studied  law  in  his  father's  office,  and  began  practice  in 
the  town  before  1790.  He,  like  his  father,  had  little  aptitude  or 
inclination  for  the  forensic  side  of  his  profession,  though  he  prob- 
ably had  a  sufficiency  of  legal  knowledge.  He  was  chosen  clerk 
of  the  State  Senate  in  1803  and  the  following  year,  and  represen- 
tative from  Exeter  from  1805  to  1809  inclusive.  In  some  of  the 
latter  years  he  was  also  Deputy  Secretary  of  State,  and  in  1809 
was  chosen  Secretary.  His  death  occurred  in  Exeter  April  2, 
1812,  and  he  left  no  descendants. 


358  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

George  Sullivan  was  a  son  of  General  John  Sullivan  of  the  Rev- 
olution, and  was  born  in  Durham  August  29,  1771.  He  obtained 
his  education  at  the  Phillips  Exeter  Academy  and  at  Harvard 
College,  and  took  his  degree  in  1790.  He  read  law  in  his  father's 
office,  and  settled  in  practice  in  Exeter  in  1793  or  1794.  He  was 
a  good  student,  well  fitted  for  professional  work,  and  of  fine  per- 
sonal presence,  and  soon  secured  an  ample  clientele.  He  was  sent 
as  representative  to  the  State  Legislature  in  1805,  and  made  so 
good  an  impression  there  that  the  Executive  conferred  upon  him 
the  appointment  of  Attorney  General  of  the  State,  which  he  held 
for  two  years.  In  1811  he  was  elected  to  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States  for  one  term,  and  in  1814  and  1815  was  a  member 
of  the  State  Senate.  In  the  latter  year  he  was  a  second  time 
appointed  Attorney  General  of  the  State  and  continued  in  the 
faithful  and  satisfactory  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the  post  for 
twenty  years,  when  he  resigned  it  upon  the  passage  of  a  law  which, 
though  increasing  the  salary,  forbade  the  occupant  of  that  office 
to  practise  in  civil  causes.  Mr.  Sullivan's  civil  engagements  were 
too  important  and  lucrative  to  be  sacrificed  even  for  the  sake  of 
an  office  to  which  he  was  so  peculiarly  adapted. 

Mr.  Sullivan  was  an  honorable,  high  minded  lawyer,  and  had 
none  of  that  petty  sharpness  which  would  take  advantage  of  every 
trifling  slip  of  an  adversary.  He  was  essentially  an  orator,  and 
spared  no  pains  to  perfect  himself  in  the  art  of  eloquence.  His 
voice  was  musical,  and  he  trained  it  with  care.  His  gesticulation 
was  graceful,  his  language  was  well  chosen,  and  his  sentences 
were  beautifully  rounded.  His  addresses  to  the  jury  were  models 
of  argument,  persuasion  and  appeal,  and  were  extremely  effective. 

While  in  point  of  technical  legal  knowledge,  and  in  the  power 
to  deal  with  abstract  principles,  Mr.  Sullivan  was  confessedly  not 
the  equal  of  some  of  his  competitors,  yet  in  his  own  chosen  field 
there  was  no  one  of  them  who  surpassed  him.  He  ranked  among 
the  first  advocates  in  the  State,  and  measured  himself  with  the 
leaders  of  the  bar,  without  losing  by  the  comparison. 

He  belonged  to  a  family  noted  in  the  law,  and  in  which  the 
attorney-generalship  might  almost  be  said  to  be  hereditary,  as  his 
father  held  it  before  him  and  his  son  after  him.  The  united  terms 
of  service  of  the  three  generations  in  the  positions  of  public  pros- 
ecutor, as  attorney  general  or  county  solicitor,  must  have  ex- 
ceeded fifty  years. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  359 

Mr.  Sullivan  died  in  Exeter  April  14,  1838.  He  was  twice 
married.  Two  of  his  sons  followed  his  own  profession,  John,  of 
Exeter,  and  James  who,  after  practising  a  few  years  in  Pembroke 
and  Concord,  removed  to  Michigan  where  he  passed  the  residue  of 
his  life. 

Moses  Hodgdon,  a  native  of  Dover,  who  began  practice  there 
in  1801,  came  to  Exeter  and  lived  in  the  town  from  about  1811  to 
1813,  when  he  returned  to  'Dover,  and  continued  to  reside  there 
afterwards  till  his  death.  He  had  the  reputation  of  being  a  sound 
and  careful  lawyer. 

Solon  Stevens  was  born  in  Charlestowu  October  3,  1778,  the 
son  of  Samuel  Stevens,  and  the  grandson  of  the  Phineas  Stevens 
who  defended  the  fort  at  "Number  Four"  from  the  assaults  of 
the  Indians,  about  the  middle  of  the  last  century. 

He  was  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College  in  1798.  After 
studying  law  with  Benjamin  West  and  John  C.  Chamberlain,  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  came  to  Exeter  to  settle,  about  the 
year  1801.  He  remained,  probably,  seven  years,  and  then 
removed  to  Boston.  But  there  his  health  failed  him,  and  he  went 
back  to  his  early  home,  to  die,  at  the  age  of  thirty  years. 

Jeremiah  Smith  was  for  forty  years  one  of  the  foremost  citizens 
of  Exeter.  A  native  of  Peterborough,  he  attended  the  schools  of 
the  town,  and  was  early  noted  for  his  mental  acumen  and  aptitude 
to  learn.  In  1777  he  entered  Harvard  College,  and  at  the  same 
time  enlisted  in  the  army  for  two  months  in  a  company  raised  to 
oppose  the  advance  of  General  Burgoyue.  He  fought  valiantly  at 
Bennington,  and  was  slightly  wounded,  but  declared  afterwards 
that  the  music  of  bullets  had  no  charms  in  his  ears.  After  two 
years  in  Harvard  he  finished  his  collegiate  course  in  Queen's  (now 
Rutgers's)  College  in  New  Jersey.  For  three  or  four  years  after- 
wards he  was  engaged  in  teaching,  at  the  same  time  reading  law. 
When  lie  presented  himself  before  the  Hillsborough  bar  for  admis- 
sion, it  was  objected  that  he  had  no  counsellor's  certificate  that  he 
had  spent  the  proper  time  in  study.  Smith  rode  all  the  succeeding 
night  to  Salem,  Massachusetts,  and  back,  and  produced  the 
proper  certificate  the  next  morning,  but  the  president  of  the  bar 
declined  to  call  another  meeting  to  consider  his  application,  on 
the  ground  that  there  was  not  time  during  the  term. 

The  Scotch-Irish  blood  of  the  young  applicant,  who  now  saw 
that  he  was  being  trifled  with,  was  instantly  up,  and  he  applied  to 
the  court  for  his  admission,  at  the  same  time  stating  the  treatment 


360  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

that  he  had  received  from  the  bar.  The  judges  ordered  that  he 
should  be  admitted,  mueli  to  the  disgust  of  the  lawj^ers,  wlio  did 
their  best  to  make  it  uupleasant  for  him.  Smith  wrote  to  a  friend 
that  "  it  Avas  devilish  hard  to  be  refused  admittance  to  bad  com- 
pany !  "  However,  he  had  his  revenge.  When  the  next  court 
met  without  his  name  appearing  on  the  docket,  two  of  the  lawyers, 
Baruch  Qhase  and  Nathaniel  Green,  to  annoy  him,  asked  if  they 
should  pass  his  list  of  entries  to  the  clerk.  He  thanked  them  and 
wrote  and  handed  them  the  following  : 

Common  sense  v.  Baruch  Chase. 
Common  honesty  v.  Nathaniel  Green. 

They  troubled  him  no  more  ;  nor,  to  do  them  justice,  did  the 
rest,  when  they  discovered  how  thoroughly  qualified  he  was  for  his 
profession.  Business  rapidly  flowed  in  upon  him,  and  he  was  soon 
one  of  the  leading  lawyers  of  his  section. 

After  three  years'  service  in  the  State  Legislature  he  was,  in 
1790,  elected  a  member  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  and 
afterwards  was  thrice  re-elected.  While  in  Congress,  he  made  the 
acquaintance  of  many  of  the  most  eminent  men  of  the  country, 
with  some  of  whom  he  remained  on  terms  of  intimacy  ever  after. 

He  resigned  his  seat  in  1797  to  accept  the  appointment  of  Dis- 
trict Attorney  of  the  United  States,  and,  the  same  year,  came  to 
Exeter  to  reside.     He  was  already  married.     For  the  next  three 
years  he  labored  assiduously  in  his  profession,  attending  the  courts 
in  at  least  four  counties.     In  1800  he  received  the  appointment  of 
Judge  of  Probate  for  the  county  of  Rockingham.     A  treatise  upon 
probate  law  which,  with  characteristic  diligence  he  drew  up  at  that 
time,    has    since  been  published,   in  great  part,   and  shows  his 
thoroughness,  learning  and  judicious  application  of  principles.     In 
February,  1801,  he  was  commissioned  by  President  Adams,  then 
just  about  to  go  out  of  office,  a  judge  of  the  United  States  Circuit 
Court.     He    prepared  himself  for  his  new   functions  by  careful 
study,  and  until  the  law  was  repealed,  by  which  the  court  was  es- 
tablished, performed  his  duties  with  fidelity.     When  he  was  tluis 
relieved  from  that  office,  he  was  at  once  appointed  Chief  Justice 
of  the  Superior  Court  of  New  Hampshire.     The  salary  attached  to 
the  place  was  so  inadequate  that  he  could  not,  in  justice  to  him- 
self and  his  young  family,  accept  the  appointment.    But  the  Legis- 
lature twice  raised  the  salary  in  order  to  retain  his  services. 

He  filled  the  office  with  consummate  ability  and  learning  until 
1809,  when  he  was  persuaded  to  resign  it,  and  to  become  a  candi- 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  361 

date  for  the  governorship  of  the  State.  He  was  elected,  but  the 
position  was  not  at  all  to  his  liking,  and  he  felt  no  regret  when  he 
found  that  he  was  not  re-elected.  In  1813  he  was  again  commis- 
sioned Chief  Justice  of  the  Superior  Court,  and  presided  there 
until  the  change  in  the  judicial  system  in  1816.  For  a  few  years 
after  this  he  engaged  in  legal  practice,  and  about  1820  retired 
from  the  profession. 

He  was  not  entirely  relieved  from  the  cares  of  business  after- 
wards, as  he  was  the  president  of  the  Exeter  bank  and  the  treas- 
urer of  the  Phillips  Exeter  Academy.  But  he  gave  most  of  his 
time  to  his  family  and  friends,  and  to  reading  and  writing.  He 
was  never  idle.  He  enjoyed  society,  and  was  a  great  talker  among 
congenial  companions.  Once,  when  he  had  passed  an  evening  in 
the  company  of  Judge  Theophilus  Parsons  and  others,  where  he 
had  furnished  the  lion's  share  of  the  conversation,  he  was  late  at 
breakfast  the  next  morning.  One  of  the  gentlemen  inquired 
where  he  was.  "Oh,"  said  Parsons,  "he  is  in  bed,  resting  that 
tongue  of  his." 

Many  anecdotes  are  told  of  his  ready  wit  among  his  townsmen. 
It  was  once  proposed  in  the  town  meeting  to  construct  a  new 
fence  around  the  burying  ground,  which  the  judge  considered  un- 
necessary. "What  use  is  there,  Mr.  Moderator,"  said  he,  "in 
going  to  tlie  expense  of  a  new  fence  about  such  a  place  ?  Those 
who  are  outside  of  it  have  no  desire  to  go  in,  and  those  who  are 
inside  am  not  get  out !  " 

One  of  the  most  marked  traits  of  Judge  Smith  was  his  uniform 
cheerfulness.  He  had  his  disappointments  and  trials  in  life,  some 
of  them  of  a  serious  character.  But  he  bore  them  without  repin- 
ing or  bitterness.     He  was  always  found  the  same. 

He  was  certainly  one  of  the  ablest  men,  and  most  learned  law- 
yers that  New  Hampshire  has  produced.  Long  after  his  death  a 
volume  of  his  legal  decisions  was  for  the  first  time  published, 
edited  by  his  son,  who  bears  his  name,  and  has  also  occupied  a 
seat  upon  the  supreme  bench  of  the  State.  Their  great  value  was 
imiversally  acknowledged  by  the  members  of  the  profession,  and 
one  distinguished  judge  expressed  regret  that  they  had  not  been 
published  much  earlier,  as  they  would  have  saved  the  people  of 
the  State  a  great  sum  of  money  in  litigating  questions  which  had 
long  ago  been  so  satisfactorily  decided  by  him. 

Judge  Smith  died  in  Dover  September  21,  1842. 


362  HISTOKY  OF  EXETER. 

James  Thorn  was  a  son  of  Dr.  Isaac  Thom  of  Londonderry, 
where  he  was  born  August  14,  1785.  He  graduated  at  Dartmouth 
College  at  the  age  of  twenty,  studied  law  under  the  direction  of 
George  Sullivan  in  Exeter,  and  after  his  admission  in  1808,  set  up 
an  office  there.  He  was  bright  and  popular,  and  had  one  accom- 
plishment better  appreciated  in  his  time  than  in  ours  —  he  sang 
a  good  song.  In  the  war  of  1812  he  was  in  command  of  a  com- 
pany of  militia  which  was  ordered  to  Portsmouth  for  the  defence 
of  the  sea-coast  for  a  brief  tour  of  duty.  He  used  to  tell  ludicrous 
stories  afterwards  of  his  military  service.  "There  came  once  an 
alarm  that  the  British  were  landing  at  Rye,"  he  said,  "and  all  my 
company  were  instantly  taken  sick,  and  I  the  worst  of  all."  How- 
ever, there  was  no  real  occasion  to  try  their  mettle  against  the 
enemy. 

After  seven  years'  life  in  Exeter,  Mr.  Thom  removed  to  Derry, 
where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  and  a  part  of  the  time  as  the  cashier  of  a  bank. 

Joseph  Tilton  came  to  Exeter  to  engage  in  the  practice  of  the 
law  in  1809.  He  had  been  admitted  eight  years  before,  which 
time  he  divided  between  Wakefield  and  Rochester.  He  was  a 
native  of  East  Kingston.  He  has  been  described  as  a  "  business 
lawyer,"  as  he  rarely  took  any  prominent  part  in  trials  in  court. 
But  he  was  a  sound  and  well  read  counsellor  who  acquired  a 
respectable  practice,  and  enjoyed  the  friendship  and  respect  of 
his  eminent  contemporaries  in  the  profession,  Mason  and  Web- 
ster, Sullivan  and  Bartlett,  and  particularly  of  Chief  Justice 
Richardson,  who  enjoyed  Mr.  Tilton's  humorous  stories  and  con- 
versation, and  admired  that  quality  so  much  more  appreciated  by 
the  bench  than  by  the  bar,  his  invariable  promptness  and  readiness 
for  trial  when  his  cases  came  in  order.  "Mr.  Tilton  is  altcays 
ready,"  was  the  judge's  testimony. 

The  good  things  said  that  set  the  table  in  a  roar,  often  fall  flat 
when  they  come  to  be  committed  to  paper.  But  lawyers,  at  least, 
will  see  the  point  of  one  of  Mr.  Tilton's  sayings.  A  coach  full  of 
members  of  the  bar  were  on  their  way  from  Portsmouth  to  Exeter. 
One  of  them  remarked  upon  the  beauty  of  a  farm  by  the  roadside, 
and  wished  he  were  the  owner  of  it.  "  I'll  tell  you  how  you  can 
get  half  of  it,"  said  Tilton.  "  Bring  a  suit  for  the  whole,  and 
refer  it  out  of  court.  The  referees  will  be  sure  to  give  you  half  !" 
Mr.  Tilton  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  from  I^xeter  for 
nine  years  from  1814  to  1823,  and  though  he  made  little  noise  in 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  363 

the  political  world,  was  really  a  power  there.  He  had  the  entire 
confidence  of  his  townsmen  and  of  those  who  knew  him  best,  and 
administered  the  trusts  that  fell  upon  him  with  uprightness  and 
fidelity. 

He  married  Nancy,  the  daughter  of  Colonel  Samuel  Folsom, 
and  lived  in  the  house  in  which  she  was  born.  He  died,  without 
leaving  descendants,  March  28,  1856,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two 
3^ears. 

Jotham  Lawrence  was  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  early  residents 
of  Exeter.  His  father  lived  in  Epping,  where  he  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 7,  1777.  He  was  educated  at  the  Phillips  Exeter  Academy, 
and  studied  his  profession  with  George  Sullivan.  Admitted  a 
counsellor  of  the  Superior  Court  in  1805,  he  had  probably  been  in 
practice  in  the  inferior  courts  for  two  years  before.  He  began 
business  in  his  native  town,  but  in  1809  removed  his  residence  to 
Exeter,  which  was  thenceforth  his  home. 

Mr.  Lawrence  was  not  distinguished  as  an  advocate,  but  had  his 
fair  share  of  the  business  of  a  general  character,  such  as  fell  to 
the  lot  of  most  country  lawyers.  There  were  a  few  distinguished 
men  in  his  day  who  were  leaders  of  the  bar,  and  argued  nearly 
all  the  causes.  They  rode  the  circuits  into  the  different  counties, 
with  the  judges.  This  was  a  survival  of  the  English  fashion, 
which  has  now  entirely  disappeared  in  New  Hampshire.  The 
other  members  of  the  profession  drew  writs  and  deeds  and  other 
instruments,  and  aired  their  eloquence  only  in  the  inferior  tri- 
bunals. 

Mr.  Lawrence  took  no  special  interest  in  political  affairs  though 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  from  Exeter  in  1831,  and 
afterwards  held  the  office  of  Bank  Commissioner.  In  his  later 
years,  and  before  a  regular  Police  Court  was  established  in  the 
town,  he  was  the  Justice  before  whom  the  complaints  for  criminal 
offences  were  usually  brought. 

He  was  twice  married  and  had  three  sons  and  several  daughters. 
One  of  his  sons,  Alexander  H.  Lawrence,  was  a  lawyer  of  emi- 
nence in  Washington,  I).  C. 

Mr.  Lawrence  died  in  Exeter  November  6,  1863. 

Stephen  Peabody  practised  law  about  two  years  in  Exeter,  from 
1811  to  1813.  He  was  a  native  of  Milford,  and  after  quitting 
Exeter  returned  there  to  live.  He  was  a  lawyer  of  excellent 
standing  and  a  man  highly  respected. 


364  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Jeremiah  Fellowes,  born  in  Exeter  May  1,  1791,  and  a  son  of 
Epliraim  Fellowes,  was  educated  at  the  Phillips  Exeter  Academy 
and  Bowdoin  College,  graduating  at  the  age  of  nineteen.  He  Avas 
fonder  of  poetry  than  mathematics  in  college,  or  than  Blackstone 
when  he  was  a  student  at  law  afterwards.  He  went  through  the 
usual  course  of  study  in  George  Sullivan's  office,  and  began 
practice  in  1813.  He  still  devoted  much  of  his  attention  to  liter- 
ature, and  in  1824  published  a  volume  of  his  metrical  productions, 
entitled  Reminiscences,  3foral  Poem^  and  Translations.  Before 
he  reached  middle  life,  however,  his  mental  powers  lost  their 
balance,  and  it  became  necessary  for  him  to  enter  an  asylum  for 
the  insane.  He  never  recovered,  but  remained  there  till  his  death 
in  18G5. 

— George  Lamson,  who  has  already  been  referred  to  in  the  chapter 
on  the  Press,  was  a  son  of  Gideon  Lamson  of  Exeter,  and  was 
born  in  1794.  After  a  course  of  preparation  at  the  academy  in 
the  town,  he  passed  through  Bowdoin  College,  and  studied  for  the 
bar  with  George  Sullivan.  Though  he  opened  a  law  office,  he  was 
apparently  chiefly  interested  in  the  printing  office.  He  became 
the  publisher  of  The  Exeter  Watchman  in  1819,  and  began  the 
issue  of  law  books.  In  1823  he  gave  up  his  legal  business  and 
removed  to  New  York  city  where  he  undertook  the  business  of  a 
bookseller,  but  with  little  success.  He  died  there  August  4,  1826. 
He  has  been  described  as  "  a  good  scholar,  an  insatiable  reader, 
and  a  ready  writer."  He  had  many  and  warm  friends  who 
mourned  his  untimely  death. 

William  Smith  opened  his  law  office  in  Exeter  in  1820.  A  son 
of  Hon.  Jeremiah  Smith,  he  was  born  in  P^xeter  August  31,  1799, 
and  graduated  from  Harvard  College  in  1817.  He  studied  his 
profession  with  his  father 

He  was  bright,  able  and  popular.  Brought  up  among  the  prin- 
cipal people  in  the  place,  and  in  the  midst  of  abundance,  he 
lacked  but  the  spur  of  necessity  to  bring  out  his  best  powers  and 
to  enable  him  to  take  his  stand  among  the  very  foremost.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-two  his  townsmen  elected  him  to  the  State  Legisla- 
ture, and  returned  him  the  two  following  years.  He  was  appointed 
a  colonel  upon  the  staff  of  the  governor,  and  received  repeated 
invitations  to  deliver  addresses  before  literary  and  other  societies, 
which  he  accepted,  and  for  which  he  received  high  encomiums. 

He  developed  a  taste,  also,  which  is  not  common  among  the 
young,   for  historical  and  antiquarian  studies.     The  past  of  his 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  365 

native  town  he  investigated  witli  special  interest,  and  ransacked 
records,  interrogated  tlie  old  inhabitants,  and  gathered  from  all 
sonrces  a  large  mass  of  historical  information  in  reference  to  it. 
His  purpose  was  to  prepare  and  publish  a  history  of  Exeter,  and 
it  is  unfortunate  that  he  did  not  live  to  complete  it.  His  labors 
in  this  direction,  however,  were  not  wasted.  His  father  used  the 
materials  which  he  collected,  for  the  foundation  of  the  excellent 
bi-centennial  address  which  he  delivered  in  1838  ;  and  the  same 
memoranda  have  been  of  very  great  service  to  the  present  writer. 

Mr.  Smith  did  enough  in  the  law  to  show  that  he  was  capable 
of  attaining  eminence,  ^ut  he  never  realized  the  need  of  exertion, 
and  never  settled  down  to  steady,  hard  work.  He  was  generous 
and  careless  in  regard  to  money,  and  in  other  ways  was  unbusi- 
nesslike, and  caused  anxiety  to  his  friends.  But  he  was  always 
loved  aud  esteemed  ;  his  foibles  were  regarded  as  venial,  and  a 
splendid  future  appeared  to  be  before  him. 

At  this  point  his  career  was  interrupted  by  failing  health.  In 
the  spring  of  1828  he  had  a  severe  attack  of  lung  fever,  which 
left  him  with  a  cough  and  other  indications  of  pulmonary  feeble- 
ness. He  never  recovered  from  it.  The  next  season  he  did  not 
rally,  and  he  then  determined  to  try  the  effect  of  a  milder  climate. 
He  passed  the  winter  of  1829-30  in  Mississippi,  among  friends 
living  there.  But  the  hoped  for  relief  never  came.  He  died  March 
29,  1830,  unmarried. 

Another  of  f]xeter's  brilliant  3'oung  lawyers  was  Oliver  W.  B. 
Peabody,  son  of  Judge  Oliver  Peabody,  born  July  9,  1799.  He 
graduated  from  Harvard  College  in  1816,  and  from  the  Harvard 
Law  School  six  years  later,  having  been  a  teacher  in  the  interim 
a  part  of  the  time.  He  was  a  diligent  student,  a  thorough  scholar 
and  a  well  read  lawyer,  and  his  native  abilities  were  of  the  first 
order.  The  highest  expectations  were  naturally  formed  of  his 
success  in  his  profession.  But  he  was  formed  for  the  pursuits  of 
literature,  and  not  for  the  contests  of  the  forum.  His  commence- 
ment part  at  college  was  a  poem.  After  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  he  was  the  editor  of  an  Exeter  newspaper,  T/ie  Jtockhigham 
Gazette.  He  wrote  and  delivered  numerous  addresses  and  poems 
on  public  occasions,  one  of  which,  a  poem  on  the  two  hundredth 
anniversary  of  the  settlement  of  New  Hampshire,  was  specially 
admired.  The  last  eight  years  of  Mr.  Peabody 's  professional 
life,  he  was  annually  elected  to  the  Legislature,  where  he  made 
his  mark  as  an  accomplished  scholar  and  law-maker.     In  1830  he 


366  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

removed  to  Boston,  Massachusetts,  not  with  the  design  of  prose- 
cuting his  profession,  so  much  as  to  find  a  wider  field  for  the 
occupation  of  his  pen.  He  assisted  his  brotlier-iu-law,  Alexander 
H.  Everett,  in  conducting  Tke  North  American  lievieiv,  and  for 
some  time  had  the  editorial  charge  of  The  Boston  Daily  Advertiser. 
In  1835  he  was  chosen  a  representative  from  Boston  in  the 
General  Court,  and  received  the  next  year  the  appointment  of 
Register  of  Probate.  He  held  the  office  six  years,  during  which 
he  found  time  for  much  literary  work.  Jefferson  College,  in 
Louisiana,  then  offered  him  the  chair  of  English  Literature.  He 
accepted  it  for  a  short  time,  hoping  that  his  health,  which  was 
delicate,  might  be  benefited  by  a  change  to  a  milder  climate.  In 
this  he  was  disappointed,  and  returned  to  the  North  and  began  the 
study  of  divinity  with  an  eye  to  the  Unitarian  pulpit.  He  read 
with  his  brother  William,  who  was  a  settled  clergyman  in  Spring- 
field, Massachusetts. 

In  1845  he  was  installed  over  a  society  in  Burlington,  Vermont, 
where  he  spent  the  short  residue  of  his  life  in  the  enjoyment  of 
the  love  and  honor  of  all  who  knew  him.  He  died  there  Jul}'  5, 
1848. 

John  Sullivan  belonged  to  a  family  of  lawyers.  His  father  and 
grandfather  were  such,  his  brother  and  two  of  his  own  sons,  to 
say  nothing  of  his  granduncle,  also,  and  several  of  his  descendants. 
They  had  some  inherited  qualities  which  fitted  them  for  the 
profession,  especially  the  power  of  addressing  juries  in  a  pecu- 
liarly persuasive  and  effective  manner.  The  oratory  of  John 
Sullivan  so  much  resembled  that  of  his  father,  that  Ichabod  Bart- 
lett,  who  knew  them  both  well,  said  that  if  he  heard  the  voice  of 
the  former  where  he  could  not  see  him,  he  should  think  it  was  the 
father  come  back  again. 

John  Sullivan  was  educated  in  the  Phillips  Academy  in  Exeter, 
and  read  law  with  his  father.  He  never  lived  elsewhere  than  in 
his  native  town.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  about  1825,  and 
soon  had  to  measure  himself  with  the  promising  young  lawyers  at 
that  time  living  in  the  town.  He  was  able  and  high  spirited,  and 
the  competition  did  him  good.  In  1828  he  was  commissioned 
solicitor  of  the  county,  and  thus  gained  an  opportunity  to  show 
his  capacity  in  the  department  of  criminal  law,  which  was  always 
to  his  liking.  The  stately  march  of  the  precedents  pleased  his 
ear,  and  his  habits  of  accuracy  were  gratified  by  the  strict  techni- 
calities. Moreover,  his /or?e  was  the  marshalling  of  evidence  and 
presenting  it  to  the  jury  in  its  most  telling  form. 


HISTOKY  OF  EXETER.  3G7 

For  ten  years  lie  performed  the  duties  of  the  solicitorship,  and 
then  received  the  appointment  of  Judge  of  Probate.  That  office 
he  held  for  the  same  period  of  time,  and  then  was  commissioned 
Attorney  General  of  the  State,  which  he  continued  to  be,  by  suc- 
cessive appointments,  to  the  close  of  his  life. 

Of  this  important  office  his  administration  was  worthy  of  all 
praise.  Diligent,  faithful  and  accurate,  he  rarely  made  even  the 
slightest  mistake,  and  his  uprightness  and  honor  secured  him  from 
any  suspicion  of  wrong  or  impropriety.  He  was  singularly 
judicious  in  dealing  with  his  cases.  Instead  of  becoming  by 
familiai'ity  callous  to  the  feelings  and  fate  of  the  culprits  brought 
under  his  official  notice,  he  made  broad  distinctions  between  the 
hardened  offenders  and  the  unfortunate  victims  of  folly  or  impru- 
dence, and  treated  the  latter  in  a  way  creditable  to  his  humanity. 
More  than  one  offender  who  had  fallen  into  bad  company,  but  had 
not  become  vicious,  have  had  reason  to  thank  Attorney  General 
Sullivan  for  saving  them  from  the  stigma  and  contamination  of 
a  long  term  of  imprisonment,  and  for  the  opportunity  to  retrieve 
their  past  errors. 

Though  by  nature  of  a  quick  temper,  he  was  courteous  in  his 
treatment  of  all  men,  unless  he  had  reason  to  believe  that  some 
slight  or  unfairness  was  intended.  Then  his  anger  blazed  up. 
But  in  the  court-room,  where  forensic  blows  were  given  and  taken 
fairly,  he  fought  out  his  battles  manfully,  and  bore  no  malice.  • 
And  when  he  was  cut  down  by  death,  November  17,  1862,  the 
unanimous  verdict  of  the  profession  pronounced  him  a  model 
attorney  general. 

Another  of  the  promising  young  lawyers  of  Exeter,  who  was 
taken  away  in  his  early  prime,  was  Samuel  T.  Gilman,  a  son  of 
Colonel  Nathaniel  Gilman,  born  May  7,  1801  ;  died  January  23, 
1835.  He  graduated  from  Harvard  College  at  eighteen,  with  a 
high  rank  for  scholarship,  and  after  a  year's  service  as  Assistant 
in  the  Phillips  Exeter  Academy,  pursued  the  study  of  the  law 
under  Jeremiah  Smith,  and  began  practice  in  his  native  village 
about  1823.  His  talents  were  superior,  and  he  had  the  gift  of 
popularity.  He  was  elected  representative  to  the  State  Legisla- 
ture, and  appointed  to  deliver  a  Fourth  of  July  address  in  Exeter  ; 
and  scarcely  a  young  man  of  his  generation  gave  promise  of  a 
brighter  future.  But  the  indications  of  pulmonary  disease  made 
their  appearance,  and  though  everything  was  done  to  arrest  the 
fatal  malady,  it  was  all  in  vain.  Before  he  reached  the  age 
of  thirty-four  his  existence  on  earth  was  ended. 


3G8  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

For  some  five  or  six  years  Samuel  D.  Bell,  afterwards  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Superior  Court,  lived  in  Exeter.  He  was  invited 
there  from  Chester,  where  he  first  practised,  by  Judge  Jeremiah 
Smith,  who  was  pleased  with  the  manner  in  which  Mr.  Bell,  who 
was  solicitor  of  the  county,  conducted  the  prosecution  against  the 
robbers  of  the  old  Exeter  bank  in  1828.  The  Judge  was  president 
of  the  bank,  and  offered  Mr.  Bell  the  post  of  cashier,  upon  the 
expectation,  probably,  that  he  would  be  able  to  combine  with  it  a 
certain  amount  of  the  practice  of  the  law.  But  that  was  undoubt- 
edly found  not  to  be  feasible,  and  after  holding  the  office  until 
about  1835,  Mr.  Bell  removed  from  the  town,  for  the  purpose  of 
pursuing  his  profession  elsewhere. 

James  Bell  came  to  Exeter  in  1831,  from  Gilmanton,  Avhere 
he  had  originally  begun  practice,  after  having  graduated  from 
Bowdoin  College,  and  studied  his  profession  with  his  brother, 
Samuel  D.  Bell,  and  at  the  Law  School  in  Litchfield,  Connecticut. 
He  was  thoroughly  equipped  for  the  position  of  a  leading  lawyer. 
Modest  and  unassuming  by  nature  he  never  lost  the  perfect 
command  of  his  powers,  and  contended  for  every  right  of  his 
clients  with  the  most  pertinacious.  His  temper  was  under 
perfect  control,  and  he  treated  all  with  the  respect  which  their 
conduct  allowed.  He  was  quick  in  liis  perceptions,  but  his  logical 
faculties  were  never  harried  out  of  their  sound,  deliberate  conclu- 
sions. His  acquired  were  fully  equal  to  his  natural  powers.  By 
careful  study  and  reflection  he  had  made  himself  a  master  of  the 
learning  of  his  profession.  Of  the  affairs  of  every  day  life,  agri- 
culture, business,  mechanics  and  trade,  he  had  a  competent 
knowledge  that  stood  him  in  good  stead  in  his  varied  professional 
engagements.  He  had  thoroughly  trained  himself  for  the  duties 
of  his  calling,  and  no  surprise  daunted  him  ;  no  exigenej'  found 
him  unprepared.  Added  to  this  he  possessed  a  ready  tact,  to 
present  always  the  equitable  side  of  his  cause,  and  had  the  weight 
of  an  upright  private  character,  which  never  fails  to  tell,  for 
counsel  and  client. 

Mr.  Bell  was  not  long  in  acquiring  a  wide  and  valuable 
practice.  He  accomplished  his  work  rapidly,  and  was  capable  of 
much  continuous  application.  Before  the  sessions  of  the  courts 
he  prepared  his  causes  with  care  and  system.  There  was  then  no 
rest  for  him  until  the  "  previous  proclamation"  at  the  end  of  the 
term.  His  engagements  for  several  years  embraced  nearly  every 
contested  cause  of  importance  on  the  dockets  of  his  own  county 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  3G9 

and  many  on  those  of  other  counties.  After  listening  to  the 
judge's  charge  to  the  jury  in  one  trial,  he  packed  up  his  papers, 
and  moved  across  the  bar  to  open  the  next  cause  to  another  jury ; 
and  so  on  in  a  great  proportion  of  the  cases  till  the  final 
adjournment  of  the  court. 

Such  work,  tlaough  he  apparently  went  through  it  with  ease,  was 
of  course  wearing,  and  at  length  resulted  in  a  disease  that  insid- 
iously sapped  the  foundations  of  his  life.  In  1846  he  received  the 
offer  of  the  post  of  Agent  of  the  Lake  Manufacturing  Company, 
which  would  be  less  confining  in  its  duties,  while  it  was  much  in 
the  line  of  his  profession.  He  accepted  it  and  removed  from 
Exeter  to  Gilford. 

In  that  year  he  had  been  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature 
from  Exeter.  In  1850  he  was  sent  from  his  new  home  a  delegate 
to  revise  the  Constitution  of  the  State.  In  1853,  and  the  two  fol- 
lowing years,  he  was  the  candidate  of  his  part}'  for  governor  of 
the  State,  but  his  party  was  in  the  minority.  But  then  came  a 
change  in  the  political  complexion  of  the  State,  and  in  1855  he 
was  elected  by  the  Legislature  a  senator  of  the  United  States  for 
six  years.  He  took  his  seat,  but  he  felt  that  his  days  were  num- 
bered. The  disease  that  had  long  lurked  in  his  system  increased 
in  violence,  and  he  died  at  his  home  in  Gilford  May  26,  1857. 

He  left  daughters  and  sons,  one  of  whom  followed  his  father's 
profession. 

John  Kelly  did  not  come  to  live  in  Exeter  until  1831,  twent}'- 
three  years  after  he  had  been  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  when  his 
legal  practice  was  substantially  over.  He  was  born  in  "Warner 
March  6,  1786,  the  son  of  the  Rev.  William  Kell}',  and  received 
his  bachelor's  degree  from  Dartmouth  College  in  1804,  He  pur- 
sued his  legal  studies  in  the  office  of  Jeremiah  H.  Woodman,  and 
began  practice  in  Henniker,  but  soon  removed  to  Northwood. 
There  he  continued  to  reside  and  to  attend  to  the  business  of  his 
profession  until  his  removal  to  Exeter,  with  the  exception  of  the 
year  1814,  which  he  spent  in  Concord  in  the  editorial  charge  of 
Tlie  Concord  Gazette.  From  Northwood  he  was  sent  in  1826  and 
1827  a  representative  to  the  State  Legislature. 

la  1831  Mr.  Kelly  received  the  appointment  of  Register  of 
Probate,  which  necessitated  his  residence  in  Exeter.  He  held  the 
office  till  1842,  at  which  time  he  was  chosen  treasurer  of  the 
Phillips  Exeter  Academy,  and  remained  in  that  post  up  to  the 
year  1855,     In  1833  he  became  editor  of  The  Exeter  J^eivs  Letter, 

24 


370  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

tifter  the  departure  of  its  founder,  Jolm  S.  Sleeper.  Under  his 
oversight  the  paper  lost  none  of  the  valuable  features  imparted 
to  it  by  its  former  conductor,  but  took  on  others  derived  from  its 
new  editor.  A  vein  of  pleasantry  ran  through  its  articles,  which 
entertained  the  readers,  and  often  enabled  the  writer  to  exert  a 
useful  influence  on  subjects  where  didactics  would  have  repelled. 

But  it  was  the  historical  and  antiquarian  information  which,  as 
has  heretofore  been  stated,  Mr.  Kelly  contributed  to  the  columns  of 
the  paper  that  especially  gave  it  a  wider  circulation  and  repute. 
His  Collectanea  have  been  mentioned  in  a  former  chapter. 

Mr.  Kelly  was  an  original  member  of  the  New  Hampshire  His- 
torical Society,  and  served  as  its  recording  secretary  for  a  number 
of  years.  To  the  valuable  historical  Collections  edited  by  Farmer 
and  Moore  he  contributed  a  carefully  prepared  series  of  sketches 
of  the  early  clergy  of  New  Hampshire.  After  his  removal  to 
Exeter  he  was  again  chosen  a  representative  in  the  Legislature  in 
1845  ;  in  1847  and  1848  a  member  of  the  P^xecutive  Council ;  and 
in  1850  a  delegate  to  the  convention  to  revise  the  State  Constitu- 
tion. 

He  married  Susan  Hilton  "  the  belle  of  Northwood,"  a  descend- 
ant of  P^dward  Hilton,  and  had  several  children  ;  among  them 
one  son,  John  P.  P.  Kelly,  and  a  daughter,  the  wife  of  the  late 
Joseph  L.  Cilley  of  Exeter. 

Timothy  P\arrar,  a  son  of  a  distinguished  judge  of  the  same 
name,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College,  who  had  practised  law  in 
Portsmouth  and  Hanover,  and  had  been  a  judge  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas  for  some  years,  came  to  Exeter  in  183C,  to  take 
the  office  of  cashier  of  the  Iilxeter  Bank,  which  he  held  till  the 
expiration  of  its  charter  in  1844,  when  he  removed  to  Boston 
which  was  ever  after  his  home. 

Amos  Tuck,  a  native  of  Parsonsfield,  Maine,  in  1810,  and  a 
graduate  of  Dartmouth  College  in  1835,  came  to  P^xeter  in  1838 
from  Hampton  where  he  had  been  teaching  an  academy  and  study- 
ing law.  He  entered  the  office  of  James  Bell  and  completed  his 
preparatory  studies  there,  so  that  in  December  of  the  same  year 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  became  the  partner  of  Mr.  Bell. 
They  remained  together  eight  years,  until  the  senior  partner 
removed  to  Gilford.  Their  practice  was  extensive,  and  their  trials 
of  contested  causes  were  particularly  numerous  and  successful. 
Mr.  Tuck  was  diligent,  sagacious  and  faithful  to  the  interest  of 
clients,  antl  soon  won  the  reputation  of  an  able  and  trustworthy 
lawyer. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  371 

Though  bred  a  democrat  in  politics,  he  early  showed  his  disap- 
probation of  the  position  of  his  party  upon  the  slavery  question, 
and  was  among  the  earliest,  in  company  with  John  P.  Hale,  to 
t.ike  his  stand  against  it.  He  employed  all  his  energies  and  in- 
fluence to  strengthen  the  Free  Soil  party,  which  united  in  1847  with 
the  Whig  party  to  elect  him  a  representative  in  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States.  He  served  there  six  years,  with  marked  ability 
and  credit. 

In  1847  he  associated  himself  with  the  late  William  W.  Stickuey 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  Their  partnership,  which  com- 
manded a  large  and  profitable  business,  continued  about  ten  years. 
For  two  or  three  years,  subsequently,  he  had  for  his  partner  in 
practice,  his  son-in-law,  Francis  O.  French,  now  of  New  York 
city. 

In  1856  he  was  a  member  of  the  convention  in  Philadelphia 
which  founded  the  Republican  party,  and  served  upon  the  commit- 
tee which  reported  its  platform  of  principles  ;  and  in  18(30  he  was 
a  delesate  to  the  Chicago  Convention  which  nominated  Abraham 
Lincoln  for  the  presidency.  In  1861  he  was  appointed  by  the 
governor  of  the  State  to  attend  what  was  called  the  "Peace  Con- 
vention,"  which  attempted  in  vain  to  avert  the  threatened  sec- 
tional conflict.  In  that  body  he  reported  the  Declaration  of  the 
Northern  members,  of  the  concessions  they  were  willing  to  make 
for  the  preservation  of  peace. 

J\Ir.  Tnck  was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln,  with  whom  he 
had  enjo3x^d  an  acquaintance  while  in  Congress,  naval  officer  of 
the  port  of  Boston,  a  post  of  importance  and  value.  This  he  held 
by  a  re-appointment  until  1865  when  he  was  removed  by  President 
Johnson.  He  was  afterwards  for  some  years  employed  by  the 
Atlantic  and  Pacific  railroad  to  take  charge  of  the  sales  of  lands 
of  that  corporation,  and  took  up  his  residence  for  the  time  in 
St.  Louis.  He  was,  later,  engaged  in  various  enterprises,  which 
carried  him  much  away  from  Exeter,  but  gave  him  agreeable  and 
gainful  occupation.  Twice  also  he  visited  Europe,  and  travelled 
there  somcAvhat  extensively. 

He  was  always  much  interested  in  the  cause  of  education.  For 
nearly  thirty  years  he  was  a  trustee  of  the  Phillips  Exeter  Acad- 
emy, and  for  about  ten  years  of  Dartmouth  College.  When  the 
town  of  Exeter  received  the  noble  donation  of  William  Robinson 
for  the  foundation  of  a  female  seminary,  Mr.  Tuck  took  great 
interest  in  the  shaping  and  location  of  the  institution  ;  was  the 


372  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

author  of  the  constitutiou  adopted  by  the  towu,  and  a  trustee,  and 
the  first  president  of  the  board. 

Mr.  Tuck's  life  was  an  active  and  honorable  one.  His  public 
career  reflected  much  credit  upon  his  ability  and  judgment.  He 
had  a  high  ambition,  and  Avas  endowed  with  the  qualities  of  a 
leader  of  men.  His  separation  from  his  original  party  was  based 
on  grounds  which  were  as  creditable  to  his  sense  of  right  as  to 
his  political  sagacity.  His  administration  of  the  several  positions 
of  honor  or  trust  that  Avere  conferred  upon  him  was  able  and 
faithful.  He  was  an  astute  man  of  business  and  accumulated  a 
large  estate,  but  was  liberal  in  contributing  to  public  objects  and 
in  private  charity. 

He  was  twice  married,  and  had  by  his  first  wife,  the  daughter 
of  David  Nudd  of  Hampton,  three  children  who  survived  him  : 
Mrs.  Frye  of  Boston,  Ellen,  wife  of  Francis  O.  French,  and 
Edward  Tuck,  both  of  New  York  city. 

Henry  F.  French  lived  in  Exeter  about  eighteen  years,  from 
1841  to  18-j*J.  He  was  a  son  of  Daniel  French,  a  lawyer  in 
Chester,  where  he  was  born  in  1813  ;  and  after  an  academic  educa- 
tion, studied  law  with  his  father  and  at  the  Harvard  Law  School, 
and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1835.  He  was  appointed  solicitor 
of  the  county  in  1838  and  retained  the  oflice  for  ten  years.  In 
1848  he  received  the  appointment  of  bank  commissioner  which  he 
held  for  four  years.  In  1855  he  was  commissioned  a  judge  of 
the  State  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  remained  upon  that  bench 
until  the  court  was  abolished  in  1859.  These  several  offices  he 
filled  with  ability  and  credit  and  to  the  general  satisfaction. 

He  removed  in  185i)  to  Massachusetts,  where  he  was  assistant 
district  attorney  for  the  county  of  Suffolk  from  1862  to  1865,  and 
then  accepted  the  presidency  of  the  Massachusetts  Agricultural 
College,  which  he  resigned  after  little  more  than  a  year's  service, 
and  returned  to  practice  in  Boston.  In  187G  he  was  appointed 
second  assistant  secretary  of  the  United  States  Ireasury,  and  re- 
moved to  Washington  where  he  remained  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties  until  the  accession  of  President  Cleveland,  when  he  retired 
to  his  farm  in  Concord,  Massachusetts,  and  died  there  November 
29,  1885. 

Judge  French  was  a  ready,  keen  and  thoroughly  equipped 
lawyer.  He  had  studied  his  profession  diligently,  and  could  bring- 
to  the  front  his  knowledge  and  his  best  powers  at  a  moment's 
notice.     His  habits  of  business  were  methodical,  and  nothing  was 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  373 

neglected.  While  he  was  upon  the  bench  he  never  left  any  cases 
or  questions  at  loose  ends  ;  when  the  term  was  over  the  entire 
business,  so  far  as  he  could  control  it,' was  done. 

He  was  an  agreeable  companion,  and  kept  on  pleasant  terms 
with  all.  He  was  also  a  man  of  marked  public  spirit.  In  Exeter 
he  was  interested  in  the  streets  and  sidewalivs  and  school-houses, 
in  the  laying  out  of  the  new  cemetery,  in  the  planting  of  shade 
trees,  and  in  all  that  pertained  to  the  improvement  and  beautify- 
ing of  the  place. 

The  judge  was  fond  of  husbandry,  and  read  and  wrote  much  on 
that  subject.  As  the  representative  of  an  Agricultural  Associa- 
tion he  visited  England  to  examine  the  improvements  made  by 
the  great  proprietors  there  in  the  cultivation  of  tlieir  lands,  and 
after  his  return  he  published  a  volume  on  Farm  Drainage. 

Though  the  greater  part  of  his  active  life  was  passed  away  from 
Exeter,  he  retained  many  warm  friends  thei*e  who  were  interested 
in  his  welfare  and  mourned  his  loss. 

John  S.  AVells  passed  in  Exeter  the  last  fourteen  years  of  his 
life.  He  was  born  in  Durham  in  1803,  and  was  a  grandnephew 
of  General  John  Sullivan  of  the  Revolution.  In  his  3'outh  he 
learned  the  trade  of  a  cabinet-maker,  but  by  his  own  exertions 
obtained  an  education  and  prepared  himself  for  hif?  profession. 
His  fu'st  practice  was  in  Guildhall,  Vermont,  from  which  place  he 
removed  after  about  eight  years  to  Lancaster,  New  Hampshire, 
where  he  acquired  a  large  practice,  and  held  the  office  of  county 
solicitor  during  two  terms.  He  was  also  elected  to  the  Legislature 
from  Lancaster  three  years,  the  last  of  which  he  was  chosen 
Speaker  of  the  House. 

He  came  to  Exeter  in  1846.  The  recent  departure  of  James 
Bell  from  the  county  made  an  excellent  opening  in  the  toAvu  for  a 
leading  lawyer,  and  his  political  opinions  also  helped  him  to 
clients.  In  a  very  little  while  his  docket  became  a  large  one,  and 
his  time  was  fully  employed.  In  1847  he  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  attornej'^  general,  but  he  probably  felt  that  he  could  not 
afford  to  surrender  his  private  practice  for  the  office.  In  1851  he 
was  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  State  Senate,  and  was  re-elected  the 
following  year.  He  presided  over  that  body  both  years.  In  Jan- 
uary, 1855,  he  was  appointed  by  the  governor  a  senator  of  the 
United  States  to  fill  out  the  unexpired  term  of  Moses  Norris,  and 
held  his  seat  until  the  succeeding  fourth  of  March.  Two  years 
before,  he  had  been  a  candidate  before  the  Legislature  for  the  same 


374  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

honor,  but  missed  it  by  a  few  votes.  In  1856  and  1857  he  was  the 
candidate  of  his  party  for  governor  of  the  State,  but  the  political 
revolution  of  1854  left  him  in  the  minority. 

Mr.  Wells  was  highly  successful  in  his  profession.  He  was 
a  keen  business  man,  and  believed  that  the  laborer  is  worthy  of 
his  hire. 

Though  not  what  would  be  called  particularly  studious  in  his 
habits,  yet  he  had  a  considerable  library,  and  consulted  it  not  a 
little  in  his  business.  His  legal  learning  was  more  than  respect- 
able, and  he  was  capable  of  a  good  deal  of  continuous  work.  But 
he  was  fonder  of  trials  at  nisi  prius  than  of  any  other  professional 
employment,  for  there  his  peculiar  qualities  were  at  their  best. 
He  had  a  hue  person,  and  a  winning  address.  His  voice  was  like 
that  of  his  kindred  Sullivans,  sweet  and  well  modulated.  He  had 
fluency  of  speech,  and  a  knowledge  of  the  weaknesses  of  human 
nature,  which  enabled  him  to  address  himself  to  the  vulnerable 
side  of  the  jury  with  much  effect. 

His  domestic  life  was  a  chief  source  of  enjoyment  to  him.  He 
married  early,  and  was  the  father  of  five  children,  three  of  Avhoni 
outlived  him.  He  was  a  fond  parent,  and  felt  the  deepest  interest 
in  the  welfare  and  happiness  of  his  family.  He  died  in  Exeter  of 
a  lingering  disease  August  1,  1860. 

William  W.  Stickney  removed  to  P^xeter  from  Newmarket  in 
1847.  He  was  no  stranger,  as  he  had  practised  law  in  the  count}' 
for  near  twenty  years  before.  He  was  born  in  Enfield,  graduated 
from  Dartmouth  College  in  1823,  and  was  admitted  an  attorney 
three  j'ears  afterwards.  Before  he  came  to  Exeter  he  had  been 
three  years  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature,  and  was  again 
elected  one  year  from  Exeter.  In  1S4U  he  was  appointed  United 
States  attorney  for  the  district  of  New  Hampshire,  and  served 
until  the  coming  in  of  President  Pierce.  In  1857  he  was  made 
judge  of  probate  for  the  county,  and  performed  the  duties  of  that 
office  with  entire  acceptance  until  he  reached  the  constitutional 
limit  of  seventy  years  of  age.  He  was  also  for  many  years  a 
director  of  the  Granite  State  Bank  and  of  the  Manchester  aud 
Lawrence  Railroad,  and  president  of  the  Exeter  Machine  Works. 
Judge  Stickney's  qualities  were  rather  solid  than  brilliant.  He 
was  a  diligent,  methodical,  careful  practitioner,  who  neglected  no 
business  entrusted  to  him.  In  the  course  of  his  long  professional 
life,  he  is  said  to  have  missed  attending  but  a  single  term  of  the 
courts,  and  that  was    by  reason  of  illness.     His  reputation   for 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  375 

integrity  was  never  qnestioned,  and  he  had  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  all.  His  preparation  of  his  causes  for  trial  was  most 
thorough,  and  he  argued  them  to  the  jury  and  to  the  court  with 
earnestness  and  force.  His  example  can  be  cited  to  young  men 
entering  upon  the  legal  profession  as  in  all  respects  worthy  of 
imitation. 

He  died  March  19,  1888,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-six 
years. 

Alva  Wood  was  a  native  of  Georgetown,  Massachusetts,  and 
Avas  born  August  18,  1821.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  that  place  and  at  Pembroke  Academy.  His  law  studies 
he  pursued  in  the  olfice  of  Bell  and  Tuck  in  Exeter,  was  admitted 
to  practice  about  1847,  and  immediately  opened  his  office  in  the 
town.  He  had  the  art  of  making  acquaintances  easily,  and  soon 
became  known  as  an  active,  Avorking  lawyer.  His  business  in- 
creased as  time  went  on,  until  few  of  the  practitioners  in  the 
county  could  show  so  heav}'  a  docket  as  his.  He  was  persistent 
and  spared  no  pains  to  cai'ry  out  his  plans,  and  succeeded  in  some 
instances  where  a  less  determined  person  would  have  failed.  He 
was  liberal  in  his  practice,  and  by  his  uniform  good  nature  and 
obliging  disposition  preserved  friendly  relations  with  all,  even 
those  who  represented  the  most  adverse  interests.  The  legal  pro- 
fession was  to  him  at  once  his  occupation  and  his  pride,  and  he 
valued  his  successes  in  it  above  all  else.  Politics  he  cared  little 
for  in  comparison,  though  he  maintained  his  fealty  to  his  party. 

For  a  year  before  his  death  his  powers  had  obviously  been 
failing,  but  it  was  not  generally  suspected  that  he  was  near  his 
end,  so  that  the  news  of  his  sudden  decease  February  17,  1878, 
was  a  great  shock  to  his  townsmen  and  friends.  Enemies  he  had 
few  or  none,  for  he  never  allowed  the  friction  of  forensic  contests 
to  rouse  any  permanent  ill  feeling  in  his  breast.  His  wife  was  a 
daughter  of  John  C.  Gerrish,  and  she,  with  a  son  and  two 
daughters,  survived  him. 

The  life  of  George  C.  Peave}^  several  years  of  which  were 
passed  in  Fxeter,  was  a  remarkable  one.  An  injury  to  his  spine, 
caused  by  an  accident,  resulted  in  almost  total  inability  to  walk, 
and  such  sensitiveness  of  his  eyes  to  the  light,  that  he  was  practi- 
cally almost  blind.  He  was  compelled  to  pass  most  of  his  time 
in  a  reclining  position,  with  a  bandage  over  his  eyes.  Most  men 
would  have  despaired  of  performing  any  business  under  such  cir- 
cumstances.    Not  so  he.     He  had  studied   law,  and  he  entered 


376  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

vioorously  into  practice.  He  found  somebody  to  read  to  him  and 
to  write  for  him.  He  lay  upon  his  lounge  in  the  office  and  in 
court,  but  he  could  talk,  and  he  had  the  command  of  all  needed 
faculties. 

After  remaining  ten  j^ears  or  upwards  in  Exeter  he  went  to 
Strafford,  was  married  to  a  devoted  wife,  who  was  not  only  eyes 
but  hands  and  feet  to  him  ever  afterwards.  With  her  aid  he 
carried  on  not  only  a  large  law  practice,  but  four  country  stores 
besides,  and  extensive  dealings  in  lumber.  .Nearly  twenty  years 
afterwards  some  favorable  features  in  his  malady  encouraged  him 
again  to  remove  to  Exeter,  but  he  found  that  he  could  not  con- 
tinue there  without  a  recurrence  of  his  worst  symptoms,  and  he 
returned  to  Strafford,  where  he  died  May  5,  1876,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-one  years. 

Other  names,  besides  those  mentioned,  are  found  upon  the  roll 
of   practitioners  of   the   law  in    Exeter.     Joseph   Boll   purposed 
making  the  place  his  home  and  staid  there  a  short  time  in  1812 
before  he  began  his  successful  career  in  Haverhill.     Thomas  Rice 
appears  to  have  been  there  in  1817  and  Abram  Smith  in  1829, 
but  of  them  we  learn  nothing.     Gilman  Marston  came  in  1840, 
and  a  brief  sketch  of  him  will  be  found  in  the  chapter  on  the  War 
for  the  Union.     David  A.  Gregg,  who  had  practised  in  Derry, 
came  to  Exeter  in  1842,  to  take  the  office  of  Register  of  Probate. 
He  died  in  Derry  in  1866.     Melburn  F.  Eldridge  had  an  office  in 
the  town  two  or  three  years  between  1840  and  1850,  and  then  took 
his   departure,  it   is   believed,  to  Nashua.     E.    Frank  Tucke,  a 
native  of  Kensington,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College  in  1843, 
and  a  man  of  many  winning  qualities,  began  business  in  the  place 
about  three  years  afterwards,  but  died  in  1857  at  the  early  age  of 
thirty-five  years.     J.  Hamilton  Shapley,  a  native  of   Portsmouth 
and  for  a  number  of  years  a  lawyer  there,  filled  the  offices  of  Reg- 
ister of  Deeds  and  Register  of  Probate,  in  Exeter,  and  continued 
in  practice  there  for  a  time,  but  has  now  retired  from  the  active 
pursuit  of   his  profession.     Nathaniel   Gordon,   a   native  of   the 
town  and  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College  in  1842,  practised  law 
for  a  number  of  years  after  1850,  and  then  quitted  it  for  wliat  he 
found  to  be  more  profitable  occupation.     Horace  C.  Bacon  studied 
law  with  John  S.  Wells  and  was  his  partner  from  about  1852  to 
1856,  and  then  removed  to  Epping  and  afterwards  to   Lawrence, 
Massachusetts.     Nathaniel  G.  Perry,  a  native  of  the  town  and  a 
graduate  of   Harvard   College,  had  barely  entered  into  practice 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  377 

when  a  disease  of  the  lungs  cut  short  his  career.  Charles  H.  Bell 
came  to  the  place  from  Somersworth  in  1854,  and  practised  law 
about  fourteen  years,  ten  of  Avhich  he  was  solicitor  of  the  county, 
and  then  retired.  John  "W.  Clark  kept  an  office  in  Exeter  from 
about  1857  to  1868,  and  went  to  Washington,  D.  C,  to  accept  a 
position  in  one  of  the  departments.  Moses  N.  Collins  has  already 
been  noticed  in  one  of  the  military  chapters.  Samuel  H.  Stevens, 
who  had  practised  law  in  Bristol,  became  cashier  of  the  Granite 
State  Bank  in  Exeter  in  1856,  and  remained  a  few  years,  but 
afterwards  fixed  his  residence  in  Concord,  where  he  died  in  1876. 
Samuel  M.  AVilcox,  a  former  practitioner  in  Orford  and  in  Fran- 
cestown,  entered  into  partnership  with  John  S.  Wells  about  1859, 
and  after  his  decease  continued  in  practice  in  the  town  a  few 
years,  and  then  removed  to  Washington,  D.  C.  Francis  O. 
French  was  a  partner  of  Amos  Tuck  two  or  three  years  after  1860, 
and  then  became  a  banker,  first  in  Boston  and  afterwards  in  New 
York.  Benjamin  F.  Ayer  removed  from  Chicago,  Illinois,  to 
Exeter  in  1862,  but  after  a  brief  stay  returned  again.  Ilendrick 
D.  Batchelder  practised  law  in  the  town  a  few  years  about  1860, 
and  then  went  to  Poughkeepsie,  New  York.  John  J.  Bell,  who 
had  resided  in  Maine,  came  to  Exeter  about  1865,  and  after  prac- 
tising his  profession  al)out  ten  j^ears  and  accepting  the  office  of 
Judge  of  the  Police  Court,  retired.  Andrew  Wiggin  opened  an 
office  in  the  town  about  1865  and  after  a  few  years  removed  to 
Boston.  Joseph  F.  Wiggin,  a  native  of  Exeter,  entered  practice 
between  1860  and  1870,  and  for  a  few  years  held  the  office  of 
Judge  of  Probate.  For  some  time  past  he  has  had  an  office  in 
Boston,  but  retained  a  connection  with  some  lawyer  in  Exeter. 
S.  Dana  Wiugate  was  admitted  an  attorney  about  1867,  and  did  a 
considerable  probate  and  pension  business,  but  died  shortl}^  after. 
Charles  U.  Bell  began  practice  in  Exeter  about  1868,  and  after 
about  five  years  went  to  Lawrence,  Massachusetts.  B.  Marvin 
Fernald  was  a  partner  of  Joseph  F.  Wiggin  for  a  time,  and  is 
now  in  Boston.  P.  Webster  Locke,  L.  G.  Hoyt  and  Fred  S. 
Hatch  each  passed  from  one  to  three  or  four  years  in  Exeter,  and 
have  gone  elsewhere. 

The  present  lawyers  in  practice  in  the  town  are  Gilman  Marston, 
J.  Warren  Towle,  Thomas  Leavitt,  Albert  C.  Buzell,  Edwin  G. 
Eastman,  Charles  H.  Knight,  Arthur  0.  Fuller,  Henry  A.  Shute 
and  E.  W.  Ford. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

MEDICAL  MEN.      ' 

The  number  of  physicians  of  education  in  the  country  two  cen- 
turies ago  was  very  small.  Exeter  had  none  that  we  know  of. 
Walter  Barefoote,  so  far  as  is  recollected,  was  the  only  one  in  the 
province.  But  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  there  was  an  entire 
absence  of  practitioners  of  the  healing  art.  There  were  always 
those  who  had  a  certain  skill  in  nursing  and  administering  to  the 
relief  of  the  sick,  even  if  they  did  not  claim  the  ambitious  title  of 
doctors.  Barbers  practised  venesection.  Clergymen  frequently 
studied  medicine  in  addition  to  divinity,  as  did  Dr.  John  Phillips, 
that  they  might  minister  to  bodies  as  well  as  to  minds  diseased. 

But  it  was  not  until  one-quarter  of  the  seventeenth  century  had 
passed,  that  a  regular  physician  was  established  in  Exeter.  It 
was,  perhaps,  an  era  in  the  history  of  the  town.  The  doctor  was 
a  man  of  consequence  in  the  early  times,  second  only  to  the  jnin- 
ister.  His  dress  indicated  the  importance  of  his  profession.  His 
cocked  hat  and  full  bottomed  wig  and  his  indispensable  cane  were 
awe-inspiring,  to  say  nothing  of  his  saddle  bags  stuffed  with  strange 
and  nauseating  medicaments  which  he  dispensed  with  profusion  to 
his  patients. 

The  mistakes  of  the  early  doctors,  if  they  made  any,  in  prescrib- 
ing internal  remedies,  are  long  buried  out  of  remembrance.  But 
some  accounts  of  the  manner  of  their  treatment  of  external  in- 
juries have  been  preserved.  One  of  those  worthies  is  said  to  have 
replaced  and  bound  on,  vpside  doion^  a  toe  which  had  been  cut 
from  a  patient's  foot,  and  it  grew  so.  Another  put  bandages 
around  the  hands  of  a  child  which  had  been  badly  burned,  confin- 
ing the  fingers  together,  so  that  they  adhered  to  each  other  and 
could  not  be  separated. 

Exeter's  first  physician,  so  far  as  can  be  discovered,  was  Dr. 
Thomas  Deane.  He  was  a  native  of  Boston,  Massachusetts,  born 
November  23,   1694,  and  a  son  of  Thomas  Deane.     The  family 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  379 

moved  to  Hampton  while  the  son  was  a  young  man,  and  this,  per- 
haps, led  him  to  Exeter.  There  in  1718  he  married  Deborah, 
daughter  of  the  Eev.  John  Clark,  and  afterwards  made  his  home. 
Where  and  to  what  extent  he  prepared  himself  for  his  profession 
is  not  known,  but  he  began  practice,  without  doubt,  no  long  time 
after  his  marriage.  He  lived  in  Exeter  till  his  death  in  1768.  He 
was  once  or  twice  chosen  to  the  office  of  selectman,  but  his  pref- 
erence seemed  to  be  for  military  position.  He  was  a  captain  and 
afterwards  major  in  the  militia,  and  upon  the  books  of  the  town, 
where  every  man's  rank  was  scrupulously  given  him,  his  profes- 
sional was  usually  supplanted  by  his  military  title. 

Dr.  Deane  was  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  town  of  Gilmanton 
and  took  an  active  part  in  building  up  the  second  church  and  parish 
in  Exeter,  which  is  the  more  noticeable  as  his  wife  was  a  step- 
dauo-hter  of  the  Rev.  John  Odlin,  the  miuister  of  the  old  parish. 
No  evidence  of  his  professional  skill  has  come  down  to  us,  but  he 
was  not  without  books.  One  which  belonged  to  him — The  Art 
of  Chiruryeri] — is  still  preserved,  in  the  possession  of  John  Ward 
Dean  of  Boston,  a  descendant. 

Dr.  Deane  is  said  to  have  lived  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  in 
a  house  next  to  that  afterwards  occupied  by  Dr.  Nathaniel  Peabody . 
He  had  three  wives  and  eleven  children. 

We  learn  from  the  diary  of  the  Rev.  Nicholas  Oilman  that  on 
returning  from  Cambridge  to  Exeter  greatly  indisposed,  July  10, 
1725,  he  "applied  himself"  to  Dr.  Sargent.  It  is  not  known  that 
this  was  an  Exeter  practitioner.  It  is  probable  that  he  was  of 
Hampton  or  Salisbury,  Massachusetts,  where  there  were  families 
of  tlie  name. 

The  next  Exeter  physician  in  the  order  of  time,  so  far  as  has 
been  ascertained,  was  Dr.  Josiah  C4ilman,  a  son  of  Judge  Nicholas 
Oilman.  He  was  born  in  Exeter  Eebruary  25,  1710,  and  died 
January  1,  1703.  In  1731  he  married  Abigail,  daughter  of 
Captain  Eliphalet  Coffin.  Where  he  studied  his  profession  we  do 
not  know  ;  quite  probably,  however,  with  Dr.  Deane.  Dr.  Oilman 
was  a  medical  practitioner  in  the  town  for  probably  half  a  century, 
and  seems  to  have  satisfied  the  people.  In  that  time  he  saw 
several  competitors  enter  the  field,  but  apparently  they  did  not 
crowd  him  out. 

He  was  a  man  of  considerable  education,  with  good  business 
capacity.  He  subscribed  for  a  copy  of  Prince's  Chronology, 
shortly  after  reaching  his   majority,  and  was   clerk  of   the  Pro- 


380  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

prietors  of  Gilmantou  more  than  thirty  years,  as  well  as  the 
draftsman  of  a  plan  of  that  town.  He  was  the  father  of  ten 
children. 

Dudley  Odlin  was  born  September  22,  1711,  a  son  of  the  Rev. 
John  Odlin  of  Exeter.  He  was  a  practitioner  of  medicine,  and  so 
far  as  is  known,  was  never  married.  He  built  the  large  gambrel 
roofed  house  on  Front  street,  afterwards  occupied  by  Colonel 
Nathaniel  Gilman.  He  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-six,  and  by  his 
will  gave  the  house  to  his  nephew  Dr.  John;Odlin. 

Robert  Gilman  was  a  son  of  Colonel  John,  and  a  brother  of 
Brigadier  Peter  Gilman.  He  was  born  June  2,  1710,  and  was 
bred  a  physician.  His  wife,  by  whom  he  had  three  children,  was 
Priscilla  Bartlett.  The  most  that  can  be  learned  of  Dr.  Robert 
Gilman  is  that  he  volunteered  to  go  as  a  surgeon  in  the  expedition 
against  Louisburg  in  1745,  and  was  wounded  in  the  leg  by  a 
piece  of  shell,  on  account  of  which  the  Assembly  of  the  province 
made  him  an  allowance.  His  wife  had  died  in  1743,  and  it  is 
probable  that  he  did  not  survive  his  injurj^  many  j'ears. 

Dr.  Eliphalet  Hale  appears  to  be  the  next  Exeter  physician  in 
chronological  order.  He  was  a  son  of  Nathan  Hale  of  Newbury, 
Massachusetts,  where  he  was  born  in  1714.  He  was  in  practice 
in  Exeter  before  1750,  and  died  at  the  age  of  fifty  years.  His 
first  wife  was  Elizabeth  Jackson,  and  his  son  Eliphalet  was  for  a 
time  a  manufacturer  of  paper  at  the  mill  in  Exeter.  His  second 
wife  was  a  daughter  of  Colonel  John  Dennet,  and  after  her 
husband's  death  she  married  Dr.  John  Phillips. 

John  Giddinge  was  a  native  of  E^xeter,  born  September  11, 
1728,  and  a  son  of  Zebulon  Giddinge.  He  became  a  physician, 
and  was  also  engaged  in  mercantile  business.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-three  he  married  Mehetabel,  eldest  daughter  of  Brigadier 
Peter  Gilman.  Dr.  Giddinge  was  a  man  of  prominence.  He  Avas 
elected  selectman  several  years,  and  a  representative  just  before 
and  during  the  early  years  of  the  Revolution.  He  commanded  a 
company  of  those  who  marched  from  Exeter  to  Portsmouth  to 
support,  if  necessary,  the  party  of  General  Sullivan  and  Langdon 
in  the  raid  upon  Fort  William  and  Mary  in  Portsmouth  harbor,  in 
December,  1774,  and  was  one  of  the  most  active  and  trusted  sup- 
porters of  the  patriotic  cause  in  the  Legislature.  In  1775  he  was 
nominated  for  the  important  appointment  of  delegate  to  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  but  modestly  withdrew  his  name.  His  death 
occurred,  it  is  believed,  about  the  year  1785. 


HISTORY  OF  EXP:TEII.  381 

John  Oclliu  was  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Elisha  Odlin,  and  was  born 
in  Exeter  September  4,  1732.  He  studied  medicine,  very  proba- 
bly, witli  his  inicle.  Dr.  Dudley  Odlin,  and  practised  for  above 
twenty  years  in  Exeter.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Joshua 
Wilson,  and  had  three  children.  In  1782  he  sold  his  house  in 
Exeter  and  removed  to  Concord  where  he  lived  afterwards. 

Nathaniel  Oilman  was  a  son  of  Colonel  Daniel  Oilman  and 
was  born  in  Exeter  about  the  year  1740,  He  was  a  practising 
physician.  His  wife  was  a  Treadwell  of  Portsmouth.  They  had 
three  children,  one  of  whom,  Nathaniel  Waldron  Oilman,  was  a 
merchant  in  the  town,  and  died  in  1854.  Dr.  Oilman  was  in 
practice  before  the  Revolution  and  probably  died  about  1782. 

Caleb  O.  Adams  was  born  in   Exeter  January  8,   1752.     He 
became  a  physician,   and   practised   in   the  town.     He   married, 
December  8,  1774,  Mary,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Folsom  of  Ports- 
mouth, and  granddaughter  of  Oeneral  Nathaniel  Folsom  of  Exe- 
ter.    In  1775  he  was  appointed  surgeon  of  Colonel  Enoch  Poor's 
third  New  Hampshire  regiment,  but  did  not  remain  in  the  service 
beyond  that  year.     He  died  probably  in  1783,  leaving  a  widow 
and  two  children.     His  widow  married  Oovernor  John  T.  Oilman. 
John    Lamson  was  a  native  of    Exeter,  and  born  about    1736. 
He  received  a  medical  education,  and  was  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  appointed  surgeon's  mate  in  the  New  Hampshire   regiment 
raised  for  actual  service  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Nathaniel 
Meserve.     Two  hundred  men  of   the   regiment  were   ordered  to 
Fort  William  Henry  at  Lake  George,  under  the  command  of  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel  John  Ooffe,  and  Dr.  Lamson  accompanied  them. 
His  adventures  after  the  surrender  of  the  garrison  to  Montcalm, 
have  been  described  on  page  236  of  this  history.    After  his  return 
home,  though  he  served  in  another  military  expedition,  he  spent 
most  of   the  residue  of    his  life  in  the  practice  of  medicine  and 
surgery  in  Exeter.     He  died  in  November,  1774. 

It  seems  that  during  his  captivity  in  Canada  he  manifested 
qualities  that  won  the  regard  of  the  savages  among  whom  he  lived. 
The  year  after  his  decease  a  party  of  them  visited  Exeter  and 
made  inquiry  for  him,  supposing  he  was  still  living.  On  being 
informed  of  his  death,  they  all  sat  down  and  maintained  profound 
silence  for  a  season,  that  being  their  mode  of  manifesting  their 
respect  and  sorrow  for  the  departed. 

Dr.  Joseph  Tilton  was  born  at  Hampton  Falls  September  26, 
1744.     He  received  his  early  education  in  the  town  schools  there. 


382  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

and  it  was  necessarily  somewhat  scanty.  At  sixteen  years  of  age 
he  began  the  study  of  medicine  and  surgery  with  Dr.  Ammi  R. 
Cutter  of  Portsmouth,  a  physician  of  note,  and  remained  with  liim 
for  five  years.  Being  then  fitted  to  commence  practice  he  married 
the  daughter  of  John  Sliaclvford  of  Portsmouth,  and  in  1767 
settled  in  P^xeter.  There  were  then  three  other  physicians  in  the 
place,  and  the  opening  was  not  a  promising  one.  But  he  perse- 
vered, and  as  the  fashion  of  the  time  was,  opened  an  apothecary's 
shop,  and  offered  his  services  as  a  physician  and  surgeon.  His 
industry  and  fidelity  were  in  a  few  years  rewarded  by  a  good  share 
of  practice,  which  extended  into  no  less  than  thirteen  towns,  and 
was  exceedingly  laborious,  as  he  had  no  means  of  travelling  except 
on  horseback. 

During  the  Revolutionary  War  he  was  absent  from  home  as  the 
surgeon  of  a  privateer  for  one  or  two  cruises.  With  this  excep- 
tion he  continued  his  practice  in  Elxeter  for  above  sixty  years. 
In  early  life  his  constitution  was  slender,  but  he  strengthened  it 
by  his  active  habits,  his  temperance  in  eating  and  abstinence  from 
ardent  spirits,  so  that  in  his  later  years  he  enjoyed  uninterrupted 
health. 

He  lived  for  sixty-eight  years  in  the  house  still  standing  on  the 
north  side  of  Water  street,  nearly  opposite  the  foot  of  Spring 
street,  and  died  in  January,  183<S.     He  left  no  male  descendants. 

Dr.  Samuel  Tenney  was  a  native  of  Byfield,  Massachusetts, 
born  November  27,  1748.  He  was  educated  under  Master  Moody 
at  Dummer  Academy,  and  at  Harvard  College,  in  the  class  of 
1772.  He  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Kittredge  of  Andover.  He 
came  to  Exeter  early  in  1775  to  settle,  but  on  the  breaking  out 
of  the  Revolution  determined  to  enter  the  army.  He  mounted  his 
horse  and  rode  to  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  arriving  just  in  season 
to  assist  in  relieving  the  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 
He  served  through  the  war  as  surgeon  ;  one  year  as  assistant  to 
Dr.  Eustis  in  a  Massachusetts  regiment,  and  afterwards  in  the 
Rhode  Island  line.  He  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne 
and  of  Cornwallis.  He  volunteered  for  the  defence  of  Red  Bank 
on  the  Delaware,  himself  using  a  musket  in  emergency  ;  and  dressed 
the  wounds  of  Count  Donop  who  was  mortally  hurt  in  the  assault 
upon  that  work.  The  Count  delivered  to  him  his  pocket-book  for 
safe  keeping,  —  remarking  that  he  looked  like  an  honest  man. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  Dr.  Tenney  returned  to  Exeter  where 
he  married  and  resided  for  the  residue  of  his  life,  though  he  did 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  383 

not  resume  professional  practice.  The  tradition  is  that  he  liad 
some  trouble  about  a  case  of  dislocation  of  the  shoulder  which  he 
undertook  to  reduce,  and  abandoned  the  profession  in  disgust. 

He  was  fond  of  scientific  studies,  and  had  a  strong  inclination 
towards  political  life.  He  was  a  member  of  the  convention  for 
forming  the  Constitution  of  New  Hampshire  in  1791  ;  in  1793  he 
received  the  appointment  of  Judge  of  Probate  for  Rockingham 
county,  which  he  held  until  1800  w4ien  he  was  elected  a  member 
of  Congress.  He  served  there  for  three  terms.  His  death 
occurred  in  1816. 

Dr.  Tenney  was  a  member  of  several  literary,  historical  and 
scientific  societies  and  contributed  articles  to  their  publications. 
For  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences  he  wrote  an 
accouut  of  the  mineral  waters  of  Saratoga,  and  a  theory  of  pris- 
matic colors  ;  for  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  a  historical 
and  topographical  account  of  P^xeter,  and  a  notice  of  the  dark 
day.  May  19,  1780  ;  and  for  the  Massachusetts  Agricultural  Society 
a  much  approved  treatise  on  orcharding.  He  also  prepared  valu- 
able political  essays  for  the  newspapers,  particularly  in  favor  of 
the  Federal  Constitution,  in  1788. 

He  was  a  man  of  fine  presence,  and  of  much  dignity.  His 
domestic  and  social  relations  were  of  the  happiest  character.  He 
was  universally  esteemed  and  respected,  and  in  his  death,  his 
townsmen  felt  that  they  had  met  with  no  ordinary  loss. 

Dr.  Tenney's  wife  was  Tabitha,  daughter  of  Samuel  Gilman, 
a  highly  accomplished  lady.  She  was  the  author  of  two  or  more 
published  works,  the  chief  of  which  was  Female  Quixotism  which 
had  much  popularity  in  its  time,  and  went  through  several  editions. 
Dr.  Nathaniel  Peabody  was  born  in  Topsfield,  Massachusetts, 
March  1,  1741.  He  never  attended  school  a  da}^  but  derived  his 
early  education  from  his  father  who  was  an  eminent  physician. 
He  studied  and  practised  medicine  with  him  from  twelve  to  eighteen 
years  of  age  and  till  his  father's  death.  When  he  was  twenty  he 
settled  in  Plaistow,  now  Atkinson,  and  obtained  an  extensive 
practice  as  a  physician.  At  thirty  years  of  age  he  was  connnis- 
sioned  by  the  royal  governor,  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  quorum. 
In  1774  he  was  appointed  a  lieutenant  colonel  in  the  militia.  He 
espoused  with  ardor  the  cause  of  his  country^,  and  took  part  in  the 
raid  upon  Fort  William  and  Mary  in  Portsmouth  harbor  in 
December  of  that  year. 


384  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

In  the  earlier  years  of  the  Eevolutioii  he  was  a  leading  member 
of  the  Legislature,  and  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.  In  1778  he 
was  appointed  adjutant  general  of  the  militia  of  the  State,  and 
served  as  such  that  year  in  Rhode  Island.  In  1779  he  was  elected 
a  delegate  to  the  Continental  Congress.  After  his  return  home  he 
was  for  several  years  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature,  and 
major  general  of  the  militia. 

He  was  one  of  the  chief  founders  of  the  New  Hampshire  Medical 
Society,  and  received  from  Dartmouth  College  the  honorary  degree 
of  Master  of  Arts.  Doctor  or,  as  he  was  commonly  styled,  General 
Peabody  was  fond  of  display,  and  probably  injured  his  property 
by  indulging  in  it,  and  in  the  later  years  of  his  life  his  affairs 
became  deranged,  and  he  was  arrested  by  his  creditors  for  debt, 
and  committed  to  jail  in  Exeter.  Thus  it  happened  that  he  became 
a  resident  of  the  town  for  about  twenty  years.  He  enjoyed  the 
privilege  of  the  prison  limits,  and  was  not  actually  confined,  but 
lived  in  a  house  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  river,  not  far  from  the 
Great  bridge.  But  he  was  restricted  to  certain  bounds,  which  he 
could  not  pass  without  involving  his  sureties  in  heavy  liabilit}'. 
The  limits,  however,  allowed  him  the  freedom  of  the  greater  part 
of  the  village. 

He  continued  to  practise  his  profession,  to  some  extent,  through 
life,  and  was  esteemed  a  physician  of  skill  and  learning. 

Dr.  Peabody  in  his  best  days  had  the  confidence  and  respect 
of  the  prominent  men  among  whom  he  moved.  But  pecuniary 
embarrassments  exposed  him  to  the  charge  of  dishonorable  deal- 
ino;s,  and  his  manners  were  not  such  as  to  render  him  an  agreeable 
companion.  He  was  cynical  in  his  notions,  and  having  himself 
great  powers  of  endurance,  he  had  little  patience  with  others  who 
complained.  He  had  probably  acquired  the  rough  habits  and 
expressions  of  the  camp,  also,  and  employed  them  without  much 
discrimination.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  man  of  wit,  and  to 
have  had  his  softer  side  ;  but,  apparently,  he  did  not  often  present 
it  to  others. 

He  was  undoubtedly  a  man  of  much  ability,  and  if  he  had  paid 
less  attention  to  public  aft'airs  and  more  to  his  own,  might  have 
acquired  fortune  and  a  life  of  ease.  His  patriotism  and  services 
for  his  country  entitle  him  to  our  gratitude,  and  his  foibles  may 
well  be  consigned  to  oblivion.     He  died  in  Exeter,  June  27,  1823. 

William  Parker,  Jr.,  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  son  of  Judge 
William  Parker  of  Exeter,  and  was  born  near  the  middle  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  P:XETER.  38o 

last  centur}'.  Little  is  learned  of  his  early  history,  but  hg  was  in 
November,  1776,  sufficiently  versed  in  the  knowledge  of  his  pro- 
fession to  be  considered  worthy  of  the  responsible  appointment  of 
surgeon  in  the  second  regiment  of  the  New  Hampsliire  line  in  the 
Revolutionary  army.  He  served  through  the  following  year,  and 
was  at  Ticonderoga  when  that  post  was  evacuated  upon  being 
invested  by  General  Burgoyne,  and  at  the  affair  of  Hubbardton, 
where  his  regiment  lost  so  heavily.  His  service  in  the  field  ended 
apparently  with  that  campaign.  He  then  resumed  his  medical 
practice  in  Exeter.  He  must  have  been  a  physician  of  some 
standing,  for  he  was  called  to  prescribe  for  a  lady  visiting  in  the 
family  of  Benjamin  Abbot,  the  principal  of  the  academy,  about 
1796,  the  lady  being  very  ill  with  an  unknown  disease.  It  proved 
to  be  the  yellow  fever.  Dr.  Parker  contracted  it  from  his  patient 
and  died  of  it. 

Nathan  North  came  to  Exeter  to  practise  medicine  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  last  century,  and  remained  about  twenty  years.  He  is 
represented  as  a  man  of  sense  and  ability,  with  a  competent 
knowledge  of  his  profession,  and  became  the  attending  physician 
of  the  principal  families  of  the  town.  But  he  Avas  not  proof 
against  the  pi-evailiug  convivial  fashions  of  the  time,  and  at  length 
fell  into  habits  of  inebriety,  which,  of  course,  seriously  interfered 
with  his  practice.  In  the  year  1815  Dr.  North  removed  from  the 
town,  and  is  said  to  have  abandoned  his  pernicious  habits,  and 
maintained  a  high  standing  in  his  profession  afterwards. 

William  Perry  was  a  sou  of  Nathan  Perry  of  Norton,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  was  born  December  20,  1788.  He  prepared  himself 
for  college  in  part  at  an  academy,  of  which  his  brother  Gardner 
was  then  principal,  at  Ballstou,  New  York,  and  entered  Union 
College,  but  at  the  close  of  his  freshman  year  migrated  to  Harvard 
College,  where  he  took  his  degree  in  1811.  While  an  undergrad- 
uate, in  1808  he  made  a  trip  down  the  Hudson  river  in  Fulton's 
first  steamboat,  the  "Clermont."  He  studied  medicine  with  Dr. 
James  Thacher  of  Plymouth,  and  afterwards  in  Boston  under  the 
instruction  of  Drs.  John  Gorham  and  John  Warren.  By  the 
latter  he  was  recommended  to  a  few  gentlemen  of  Exeter  who  had 
applied  to  him  to  advise  them  of  some  promising  young  physician 
to  settle  in  the  town.  He  accordingly  opened  his  office  there  in 
1814.  His  progress  at  first  was  obstructed  by  the  resident  medical 
men  who  were  naturally  jealous  of  a  young  competitor  ;  but  before 
long  his  professional  learning  and  correct  habits  with  his  industry 

25 


:]S6  HISTORY  OF  EXETEH. 

and  ability  opened  his  way  to  a  wide  practice,  which  he  retained 
even  to  old  age.  It  reached  to  the  remotest  parts  of  the  county 
and  sometimes  beyond  it.  It  was,  of  course,  very  laborious,  and 
not  what  would  in  these  times  be  called  lucrative.  But  it  was 
sufficient  for  his  needs,  and  enabled  him  to  live  as  he  desired,  to 
educate  his  family,  and  to  realize  a  handsome  competency. 

Dr.  Perry  was  of  an  inquiring  and  inventive  bent ;  and  was  not 
content  to  follow  outgrown  methods.  He  contrived  new  appli- 
ances for  the  treatment  of  injuries,  and  devised  new  remedies  for 
disease,  and  gained  much  reputation  thereby.  He  was  one  of  the 
earliest  of  the  medical  men  of  the  State  to  agitate  the  project  of 
establishing  an  Asylum  for  the  Insane,  which  has  since  been 
accomplished  in  so  admirable  a  manner.  In  1835,  after  delivering 
a  course  of  lectures  before  the  students  of  the  Bowdoin  Medical 
College,  he  was  offered  a  professorship  there,  but  declined  it. 

An  account  of  his  enterprise  in  the  manufacture  of  potato  starch, 
has  already  been  given  in  a  former  chapter. 

For  much  more  than  half  a  century  Dr.  Perry  was  the  principal 
physician  and  surgeon,  not  only  in  the  town,  but  in  the  section. 
In  all  difficult  cases  which  arose  in  the  neighboring  places,  he  was 
the  natural  consulting  authority.  In  surgical  operations,  espe- 
cially, his  experience  was  large,  and  his  opinion  was  of  the  greatest 
weight.  He  was  often  called  into  court,  to  give  testimony  as  an 
expert  in  important  causes.  He  was  decided  in  his  opinions,  but 
he  based  them  on  authorities  and  the  soundest  reasoning.  Cross 
examination  never  shook  his  testimony,  but  rather  brought  out 
fresh  support  for  his  views. 

He  was  a  conscientious  and  positive  man.  He  strove  always  to 
discern  the  right  course,  and  then  pursued  it  unswervingly.  He 
tolerated  no  temporizing,  and  still  less  an^'thiug  approaching  to  a 
compromise  of  principle.  People  always  knew  where  to  find  him. 
He  was  sometimes  involved  in  differences  with  others,  but  he 
marched  straight  on,  and  in  the  end  won  the  respect  of  even  his 
antagonists,  for  his  honesty  and  uprightness.  He  lived  to  the  age 
of  ninety-six  years. 

An  old  age  like  Dr.  Perry's  was  something  to  be  desired.  Free 
from  nearly  all  the  infirmities  incident  to  advanced  life,  his  mem- 
ory and  judgment  for  the  most  part  unclouded,  in  the  midst  of 
relatives  and  friends,  and  of  a  community  who  valued  and 
respected  him,  he  passed  his  later  years  in  serenity  and  peace. 
He  was  gratified  by  the   respect   and   consideration   everywhere 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  387 

shown  him.  At  the  last  two  presidential  elections  his  fellow  citi- 
zens of  the  town  with  one  accord  refrained  from  voting,  nntil  he 
cast  the  first  ballot.  On  his  later  birthdays  his  old  patients  and 
friends  called  on  him  to  wish  him  health  and  happiness,  and  to 
present  him  tokens  of  their  love  and  good  will.  And  when  his 
long  life  was  brought  to  a  close,  the  community,  as  one  man,  sin- 
cerely mourned  the  loss  of  him  who  had  so  long  been  a  faithful 
and  valued  leading  character  in  the  town. 

David  ^Y.  Gorham  was  a  son  of  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Jr.,  and 
was  born  in  Cauandaigua,  New  York,  in  the  year  1800.  He 
obtained  his  education  at  the  Phillips  Exeter  Academy  and  at 
Harvard  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1821.  He  chose  the 
profession  of  medicine,  and  established  himself  in  practice  in  Exe- 
ter, and  there  remained  until  his  death  in  1873.  He  was  a  careful 
and  reliable  physician,  and  acquired  an  extensive  practice,  and  few 
medical  men  commanded  the  confidence  of  their  patients  more  com- 
pletely than  he.  He  was  an  excellent  man  of  business,  liberal,  but 
exact,  and  the  impersonation  of  promptness.  In  1844,  on  the 
decease  of  Dr.  Abbot,  he  was  chosen  a  trustee  of  the  Phillips  Exeter 
Academy,  and  continued  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  to  the  time 
of  his  decease.  His  services  in  that  capacity  were  of  the  highest 
value.  He  was  assiduous  in  looking  after  the  interests  of  the 
institution,  in  ever}^  ^^'^J-  His  accurate  business  habits  and  sound 
judgment  were  alwaj^s  a  source  of  strength  to  the  management. 
When  the  old  academy  building  was  burned  in  1871,  it  was 
largely  through  his  exertions  and  influence  that  it  was  replaced  by 
the  present  beautiful  and  appropriate  structure. 

He  was  one  of  the  most  important  members  and  a  principal  sup- 
porter of  the  Unitarian  Society.  He  served  annually  as  one  of  the 
executive  committee,  and  voluntarily  took  upon  himself  the  unde- 
sirable duties  of  treasurer  and  collector.  His  uniform  patience, 
good  temper  and  excellent  system  enabled  him  to  keep  the  finan- 
cial affairs  of  the  society  in  a  sound  condition,  and  thus  a  chief 
source  of  variance  and  difficulty  was  avoided.  The  minister's 
salary  was  never  a  daj^  in  arrear,  during  his  term  of  office.  His 
death  was  a  heavy  blow  to  the  institutions  to  which  he  had  been 
so  helpful,  and  a  serious  loss  to  the  community,  where  he  was 
highly  esteemed.  Dr.  Gorham  married  early  in  his  professional 
life,  Elizabeth  P.,  daughter  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Abbot.  He  survived 
her  death  only  about  two  months.  Of  their  three  children,  two 
outlived    him.  Dr.  William    H.    Gorham,    who   divides    his   time 


388  HISTOKY  OF  EXETER. 

between  Exeter  and  Boston,  and  Mary,  wife  of  George  C.  Sawyer 
of  Utica,  New  York. 

Sanuiel  B.  Swett  was  a  native  of  Boston,  a  son  of  Colonel 
Samuel  and  grandson  of  Dr.  John  Barnard  Swett  of  Newbnryport, 
Massachusetts,  a  distiuguislied  physician.  He  obtained  his  med- 
ical education  in  New  York  and  Paris,  and  came  to  Exeter  about 
1840.  He  had  a  large  practice  in  that  and  the  adjoining  towns 
for  upwards  of  twent}^  years,  and  then  removed  to  Jamaica  Plain, 
Massachusetts,  where  he  still  resides.  , 

Wdliam  G.  Perry,  a  son  of  Dr.  William  Perry,  graduated  from 
Dartmouth  College  in  1842  and  after  completing  his  medical 
course  in  this  country,  studied  a  year  in  P'rance.  He  has  been  in 
practice  in  the  town  since  about  the  year  1846. 

In  addition  to  the  medical  practitioners  named,  there  have  been 
many  others  who  lived  for  longer  or  shorter  periods  in  the  town. 
Dr.  Josiah  Rollins,  a  native  of  Exeter,  appears  to  have  practised 
between  1750  and  1778.  Dr.  Selah  Gridley  was  a  resident  of  the 
town  for  some  years  before  his  death  in  1826,  though  it  is  believed 
that  he  did  little  in  his  profession.  Dr.  Thomas  O.  Folsom,  a 
native  of  the  place,  died  in  1827,  shortly  after  he  received  his 
degree  of  M.  D.  Dr.  Abraham  D.  Dearborn,  a  son  of  Freese 
Dearborn,  practised  in  the  town  a  few  years  about  the  j^ear  1840, 
as  did  also  Dr.  Thomas  Flanders  and  Dr.  Blodgett.  Dr.  Charles 
Warren  passed  more  or  less  time  in  Exeter  for  a  number  of  years, 
attending  to  patients.  Dr.  George  W.  Gale  had  at  one  time  a 
considerable  practice.  Dr.  Franklin  Lane,  a  son  of  Joel  Lane, 
began  his  medical  life  in  Exeter,  and  at  tlie  same  time  was  editor 
of  The  Exeter  News  Letter.  He  afterwards  removed  to  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  where  he  still  lives. 

Dr.  George  G.  Odiorne,  also  a  native  of  the  town,  commenced 
practice  there,  but  afterwards  went  to  the  West.  Dr.  Ezra 
Bartlett  was  a  number  of  years  a  practitioner  in  the  town,  and 
removed  to  Taunton,  Massachusetts,  where  he  now  is.  Dr.  E.  P. 
Cummings  established  himself  in  the  town  as  a  homoeopath,  a  little 
time  prior  to  the  war,  and  then  was  employed  in  the  naval  service, 
and  died  in  Newbnryport,  Massachusetts.  Dr.  Samuel  Perham 
for  some  years  passed  a  great  part  of  his  time  in  Exeter  in 
treating  certain  classes  of  disease.  Dr.  Albert  Carroll  practised 
a  few  years  in  the  place,  but  is  now  deceased.  Dr.  Charles  C. 
Odlin,  a  son  of  Joseph  Odlin,  was  born  in  the  town,  and  pursued 
his  profession  there  for  several  years  with  success,  and  is  now 
located  in  Melrose,  Massachusetts. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  389 

Dr.  Joseph  ]M.  Patch  was  oue  of  the  earliest  medical  men  in 
Exeter  to  give  his  chief  attention  to  dentistry  which  lie  did  from 
1838  to  1849.  Dr.  William  L.  Johnson  afterwards  practised  as  a 
dentist  for  something  near  twent}'  years,  in  the  town,  and  then 
removed  to  Boston.  He  was  succeeded  in  that  branch  of  the  pro- 
fession by  Drs.  W.  D.  Vinal,  Mark  W.  Pray,  Charles  H.  Gerrish, 
J.  E.  S.  Pray  and  A.  T.  Severance.  The  last  three  are  still  in 
practice. 

The  physicians  now  in  general  practice  in  Exeter  are  Drs. 
William  G.  Perry,  Robert  Mason,  Lafayette  Chesley,  Edward 
Otis,  A.  H.  Varney,  Walter  Tuttle  and  W.  B.  Mack. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

FAMILIES  AND  INDIVIDUALS. 

There  are  several  Exeter  families  which  settled  early  iu  the 
town,  and  are  still  represented  there  by  descendants.  Some  of 
them  have  been  more  numerous,  and  some  more  conspicuous  than 
others.  A  part  of  them  have  already  been  referred  to  in  these 
pages,  and  others  will  hereafter  be.  The  limited  extent  of  the 
work  forbids  extended  notices  of  many  individuals. 

The  Dudley  family  iu  the  town  dates  from  1650.  The  Rev. 
Samuel  Dudley  had  no  less  than  eighteen  sons  and  daughters, 
most  of  whom  lived  to  be  married.  They  became  connected  with 
the  Hiltons,  the  Gilmans,  the  Leavitts,  the  Lyfords,  the  Halls  and 
other  families,  and  their  descendants  in  the  vicinity  are  very 
numerous.  The  Christian  names  of  Dudley  and  AVinthrop,  still 
widely  used,  indicate  how  extensive  are  the  relationships  of  the 
family.  Several  prominent  members  of  the  family  are  mentioned 
in  various  connections  elsewhere  in  this  work.  A  fact  was  stated 
in  an  earlier  chapter  which  showed  the  Rev.  Samuel  Dudley's 
interest  in  improving  the  breed  of  neat  stock  iu  the  town.  Since 
that  was  printed,  it  has  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  writer  that 
the  same  taste  has  been  inherited  by  his  descendants.  To  this 
day  the  Dudleys  are  said  to  be  peculiarly  fond  of  fine  cattle. 
And  it  is  not  too  nuich  to  say  that  other  qualities,  which  gave 
repute  to  the  earlier  holders  of  the  name,  have  also  been  trans- 
mitted to  their  progeny. 

Of  this  family,  one  member.  Judge  John  Dudle}',  merits  par- 
ticular notice.  Born  in  Exeter  April  9,  1725,  he  was  brought  up 
in  the  household  of  Colonel  Daniel  Gilman.  Though  deficient  in 
education  he  engaged  in  trade  with  success,  and  became  one  of 
the  foremost  men  of  his  day  in  the  province.  He  removed  to 
Raymond  in  17G6,  was  a  representative  in  the  Legislature  and 
Speaker  of  the  House,  a  member  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  and 
in  1784  was  appointed  to  the  bench  of  the  Superior  Court,  and 

31)0 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  391 

performed  the  duties  of  the  position  for  twelve  years.  His  native 
sound  understanding,  sagacity  and  impartiality  enabled  him  to 
acquit  himself  as  a  Judge  to  the  acceptance  of  the  bar  no  less  than 
of  the  people  at  large. 

The  Folsom  family  is  among  the  foremost  in  numbers.  John 
Folsom,  who  emigrated  from  England  to  this  country,  came  to 
Exeter  between  1650  and  1660,  and  served  the  latter  year  as  well 
as  in  1668  as  selectman  of  the  town.  His  son  John  was  a  select- 
man in  1691  and  a  representative  in  the  provincial  Assembly  in 
1688,  1694  and  1695.  It  was  he  who  refused  to  attemptto  collect 
by  distress  the  illegal  taxes  levied  by  Governor  Cranfield  and  his 
Council.  Other  members  of  the  family  held  office  in  the  town 
from  time  to  time  afterwards,  but  it  was  two  of  the  great-grand- 
sons of  the  early  settler  who  attained  the  highest  distinction. 

Nathaniel  Folsom,  the  son  of  Jonathan  and  Anna  (Ladd) 
Folsom,  was  born  in  1726.  At  the  age  of  twenty-nine  he  com- 
manded a  company  of  the  New  Hampshire  regiment  in  the  expe- 
dition against  Crown  Point,  and  distinguished  himself,  as  has 
been  related  on  a  previous  page.  He  was  appointed  by  the  royal 
governor  a  colonel  of  militia,  but  took  the  popular  side  when  the 
division  came  between  the  colonies  and  the  mother  country.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress  in  1774  and  was 
elected  to  the  same  body  three  times  afterwards.  He  took  part 
in  the  movement  to  strip  Fort  William  and  Mary  of  its  armament 
in  1774,  and  in  1775  was  honored  with  the  responsible  appoint- 
ment of  Major  General  of  all  the  New  Hampshire  militia,  and 
retained  it  through  the  war.  Drafts  from  the  various  regiments 
were  often  called  into  active  service,  and  his  duties  were  impor- 
tant and  sometimes  arduous,  but  he  performed  them  with  exem- 
plary fidelity. 

General  Folsom  was  also  a  member  of  the  Committee  of  Safety, 
a  Councillor,  and  a  Judge  of  the  Inferior  Court.  His  time  during 
the  Revolution  was  almost  constantly  devoted  to  the  public  service 
in  various  capacities,  and  perhaps  no  one  of  the  men  of  the  time 
enjoyed  a  greater  measure  of  the  reliance  of  the  people  than  he. 
Among  his  last  public  duties  was  that  of  presiding  temporarily 
over  the  convention  for  framing  a  new  Constitution  of  the  State 
in  1783. 

This  able  man  and  true  patriot  died  May  26,  1790. 

Samuel  Folsom,  his  brother,  was  less  conspicuous,  but  stood 
high  in  the  confidence  of  the  community.     He  was  an  innkeeper, 


392  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

and  his  house  was  on  the  corner  of  Court  square  and  Water  street, 
and  is  now  occupied  by  Dr.  George  W.  Dearborn.  It  was  there 
that  Washington  partook  of  a  collation  on  his  visit  to  the  town  in 
1789.  Samuel  Folsom  was  the  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  Exeter 
Cadets,  under  Colonel  John  Phillips. 

Charles  Folsom,  of  a  later  generation,  was  a  graduate  of 
Harvard  College  in  1813,  and  was  afterwards  tutor  and  instructor 
in  Italian.  For  several  years  he  was  chaplain  and  teacher  of 
mathematics  in  the  United  States  navy,  and  had  among  his  pupils 
David  G.  Farragut,  afterwards  the  distinguished  Admiral,  who 
never  forgot  his  obligations  to  Mr.  Folsom,  but,  years  afterwards, 
presented  him  with  a  magnificent  silver  vase  suitably  inscribed,  in 
testimony  of  his  gratitude.  His  classical  scholarship  was  thorough 
and  exact,  and  he  died  with  the  respect  of  all  who  knew  him. 

The  Leavitt  family  was  one  of  the  earliest  in  the  town.  Samuel 
Leavitt  was  one  of  the  selectmen  in  1675,  1691  and  1696,  and  was 
a  representative  in  the  Assembly  in  168.3,  and  three  subsequent 
years. 

Moses  Leavitt,  his  brother,  was  selectman  in  1682,  and  three 
years  besides;  representative  in  1693  and  three  other  years,  and 
moderator  seven  years.  Descendants  of  theirs  have  from  time  to 
time  held  town  offices  since.  Dudley  Leavitt,  the  well  known 
compiler  of  the  almanacs,  derived  his  descent  from  the  same 
family. 

The  Thing  family  dates  also  far  back  in  the  iiistory  of  the  town. 
Jonathan  Thing,  the  first  comer,  was  a  selectman  in  1658  and 
seven  years  afterwards,  town  clerk  in  1689,  and  representative  in 
1693.  Samuel  and  Bartholomew,  his  sons,  held  the  same  offices 
for  even  longer  periods,  and  the  service  of  the  latter  did  not  end 
till  1737.  They  were  among  the  leading  men  of  the  town  for  a 
long  period. 

The  Conner  family  was  also  an  early  one,  and  has  produced  in 
several  generations  men  of  prominence.  Benjamin  Conner  was 
one  of  the  shrewdest  political  managers  of  his  time,  and  repre- 
sented the  town  in  the  Legislature  thirteen  years  in  succession. 
Daniel  Conner,  who  is  remembered  by  many,  was  a  man  of  energy 
and  large  dealings  ;  and  William  and  Charles,  sons  of  Nathaniel 
Conner,  a  noted  builder,  occupied  positions  of  trust ;  to  say 
nothing  of  the  living. 

The  Lyford  family  is  another  of  those  who  have  long  clung  to 
Exeter.     They  have  not  been  ambitious  for  public   employment, 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  393 

but  they  have  led  respectable,  useful  lives.  Some  of  the  earlier 
members  of  the  family  followed  the  sea,  but  most  of  them  have 
settled  independently  upon  their  farms.  The  late  Gideon  C. 
Lyford  was  at  one  time  largely  engaged  in  trade,  and  always  sus- 
tained the  character  of  an  upright,  honorable  dealer. 

The  ancestor  of  the  Gordon  family  appeared  in  Exeter  within 
the  first  half  century  after  its  settlement.  He  had  a  mill  upon  the 
Little  river.  His  descendants  occupied  lands  in  the  southwestern 
part  of  the  town,  and  were  generally  farmers,  except  one  or  two 
who  had  the  control  of  mills  at  King's  falls.  One,  of  a  later  gen- 
eration, George  William  Gordon,  was  appointed  consul  at  Rio 
Janeiro,  and  was  afterwards  postmaster  of  Boston.  Nathaniel 
Gordon,  a  present  resident  of  the  town,  was  a  lawyer  by  profes- 
sion, and  has  been  president  of  the  State  Senate. 

The  family  of  Robinsons  has  been  somewhat  conspicuous  in  the 
town.  Ephraim  Robinson  was  for  a  long  series  of  years  in  town 
offices,  and  was  apparently  one  of  those  square,  uncompromising 
men  whom  any  town  is  fortunate  to  entrust  its  interests  to. 
Caleb  Robinson  rose  to  the  rank  of  major  in  the  continental 
service  in  the  Revolution,  and  Noah  Robinson  to  that  of  captain. 
William  Robinson,  the  founder  of  the  Female  Seminary,  was  of 
the  same  blood,  as  was  Jeremiah  L.  Robinson,  who  for  a  number 
of  years  was  one  of  the  active  business  men  of  tlie  place. 

The  Smiths,  of  whom  there  were  two  or  three  different  families 
in  the  earlier  times,  and  perhaps  more  later,  included  several 
jnembers  of  prominence.  Theophilus  Smith  was  a  name  which 
came  to  the  front  for  two  or  three  generations.  It  would,  how- 
ever, require  careful  investigation  to  trace  out  the  ditferent 
branches  of  the  earlier  P^xeter  families  of  the  name.  Judge  Jere- 
miah Smith  was  not  connected  with  either.  He  was  of  Scotch- 
Irisli  descent. 

The  Odlin  family,  though  not  so  extensive  as  some  of  those 
mentioned,  has  been  a  noted  one  in  the  town.  The  two  genera- 
tions of  ministers,  and  their  descendants  among  the  infiuential 
business  men  a  great  part  of  tlie  time  since,  have  done  much  for 
Exeter's  advancement.  William,  James  and  Woodbridge  Odlin 
ai'e  well  remembered.  The  last  was  the  founder  of  the  chair  of 
English  in  the  Phillips  Academy. 

The  families  of  Barker,  Colcord  and  Dolloff  have  been  long- 
settled  in  P^xeter,  and  those  of  Kimball,  Shute  and  several  others 
for  a  somewhat  less  time.     Their  members  have  been,  generally. 


394  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

good  citizens  and  reputable  men.  Want  of  space  forbids  a  more 
extended  notice  of  tliem. 

Of  the  many  individuals  outside  of  the  families  spoken  of,  who 
have  attained  more  or  less  prominence,  brief  sketches  are  here 
given  of  a  few,  of  whom  little  or  no  mention  has  yet  been  made. 
There  could  be  many  more  added,  if  the  dimensions  of  the  volume 
permitted. 

Jonathan  Cass  was  a  native  of  Exeter,  born  about  1750.  He 
was  a  blacksmith  by  trade.  At  the  beginni^ig  of  tlie  Revolution 
he  enlisted  in  the  army,  and  served  through  the  war,  coming  out 
at  the  close  with  a  captain's  commission.  He  then  resumed  his 
business  in  the  town  and  remained  for  several  years,  when  he 
re-entered  the  military  service,  emigrated  to  Ohio  and  attained  the 
rank  of  major.  He  had  several  children  born  in  I^xeter,  one  of 
whom  was  the  distinguished  Lewis  Cass,  who  used  afterwards  to 
pay  occasional  visits  to  the  place  of  his  nativity.  The  house  in 
which  he  was  born  was  upon  the  east  side  of  Cross,  now  called 
Cass  street. 

Enoch  Poor  was  born  in  Andover,  Massachusetts,  and  distin- 
guished himself  in  his  early  manhood  by  making  a  run-a-way 
match  with  his  wife.  He  was  an  enterprising  ship-builder  and 
merchant  in  Exeter  when  the  War  of  the  Revolution  broke  out. 
All  eyes  were  turned  to  him,  as  one  of  the  natural  leaders.  He 
was  resolute,  brave,  and  accustomed  to  command.  Appointed 
colonel  of  the  third  New  Hampshire  regiment  in  the  continental 
line,  he  justified  by  his  conduct  the  most  favorable  expectations 
that  were  formed  of  his  military  talents.  Lafayette  chose  him  in 
1780  aftei-  his  appointment  as  brigadier  general,  to  lead  a  brigade 
in  his  corps  of  Light  Infantry.  His  death  occurred  that  year  in 
New  Jersey.  The  accounts  of  the  time  attributed  it  to  bilious 
fever,  but  recent  investigations  point  to  a  duel  with  a  brother 
officer,  as  the  cause.  In  the  arm}'  the  "  point  of  honor,"  as  it  was 
termed,  led  to  many  fatal  meetings  between  those  who  should 
have  turned  their  weapons  only  against  the  common  enem3^  Gen- 
eral Poor  was  highl}'  esteemed  by  Washington  and  by  Lafayette. 
Nearly  fifty  years  after  his  death  the  latter  visited  Concord,  New 
Hampshire,  and  partook  of  a  collation  there  as  the  nation's  guest. 
On  being  called  on  for  a  toast  he  gave  "the  memor}^  of  Light 
Infantry  Poor  and  Yorktown  Scammell ;"  a  graceful  compliment 
to  the  State  which  sent  those  Revolutionary  heroes  into  the  service 
of  the  country. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETP:R.  395 

Colonel  John  Eogers  was  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  in- 
fluential men  of  his  day  in  Exeter.  A  few  of  the  principal  people 
used  to  govern  the  place  then.  They  nominated  officers,  deter- 
mined what  improvements  were  necessary,  and  arranged  all  the 
town  business  ;  and  the  majority  of  the  voters  fell  in  with  their 
l^lans  without  objection.  Of  these  leaders  Colonel  Rogers  was 
for  many  years  the  ruling  spirit. 

He  was  a  sou  of  Judge  Nathaniel  Rogers,  and  was  born  July  2, 
1787,  at  Newmarket.  He  received  his  education  at  the  Phillips 
Exeter  Academy,  and  was  appointed  in  1808  cashier  of  the  old 
Exeter  Bank,  and  so  continued  for  twenty-two  years.  He  was 
also  the  colonel  of  the  fourth  regiment  of  militia.  For  fourteen 
years  from  1817  he  was  chairman  of  the  board  of  selectmen.  He 
was  interested  in  the  manufacturing  companies,  in  tanning,  in 
morocco  dressing,  and,  indeed,  in  almost  too  many  of  the  move- 
ments for  the  im])rovement  of  business  in  the  town. 

Colonel  Rogers  was  a  large,  fine  looking  man,  of  courteous 
manners,  and  was  exceedingly  popular.  He  was  three  times 
married,  his  first  two  wives  being  daughters  of  Colonel  Nathaniel 
Oilman,  and  his  last  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Jacob  Cram.  He  died 
in  July,  1837,  leaving  a  widow  and  six  children,  two  of  whom  are 
still  living,  Frances,  the  widow  of  John  Chadwick  of  Exeter,  and 
Jacob  Rogers  of  Lowell,  Massachusetts. 

James  Burley  was  born  in  the  town  in  1784,  and  was  a  promi- 
nent character  for  many  years.  He  early  manifested  a  great  apti- 
tude for  militar}^  exercises.  For  a  long  time  he  commanded  a 
uniformed  company',  was  colonel  of  the  fourth  regiment  of  militia, 
and  published  a  work  on  military  tactics  in  1820.  For  some  years 
he  was  the  landlord  of  the  hotel  nearly  opposite  the  First  church, 
and  afterwards  was  chosen  cashier  of  the  Granite  Bank,  an  office 
which  he  held  to  the  time  of  his  death,  in  18.50.  He  was  a  man 
of  prompt  and  resolute  character,  and  was  highly  respected  for  his 
integrity  and  honor.  He  held  repeatedly  the  office  of  moderator 
and  selectman.  He  was  twice  married,  and  his  sons  and  step-son 
were  among  the  early  residents  in  Chicago,  Illinois. 

Samuel  Hatch  was  long  a  prominent  figure  in  the  political  affairs 
of  the  town.  He  was  a  cabinet-maker  and  dealt  in  furniture.  A 
Democrat  of  positive  faith,  he  lived  in  the  days  when  his  party 
opposed  granting  to  railroads  the  right  of  way  over  private  lands. 
He  was  thoroughly  honest  and  of  no  small  ability.  He  was  once 
chosen  representative  to  the  Legislature,  though  a  majority  of  the 


396  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

voters  belonged  to  the  opposite  political  party ;  and  was  twice  a 
member  of  the  State  Senate.  He  had  several  sons,  who  were  well 
educated,  but  none  of  them  settled  in  Exeter.  One  of  them, 
Daniel  G.  Hatch,  was  a  judge  in  Kentucky. 

Seth  Walker  was  born  in  Portsmouth  August  29,  1756.  Early 
in  the  Revolution  he  joined  the  army,  and  was  at  the  siege  of 
Boston.  He  afterwards  entered  a  privateer  and  was  captured  by 
a  British  man-of-war.  He  retired  from  the  service  with  the  rank 
of  captain,  and  afterwards  had  the  command  of  a  regiment  of 
militia.  Early  in  the  present  century  he  was  elected  Register  of 
Deeds  for  the  county  of  Rockingham  and  took  up  his  residence  in 
Exeter.  In  those  days  when  they  found  a  good  officer  they  kept 
him ;  and  Colonel  Walker  held  the  Registership  nearly  thirty 
years,  without  opposition.  He,  and  his  daughters,  who  assisted 
him  in  his  office,  filled  a  great  succession  of  A'olumes  with  their 
clerkly  chirography,  and  Colonel  Walker  became  known  through- 
out all  the  county.  His  conduct  in  his  official  as  well  as  in  his 
private  capacity  Avas  above  reproach.  A  year  or  two  before  his 
decease  he  removed  to  Derry,  where  one  of  his  daughters  resided. 

Joseph  Pearson  was  a  son  of  Jethro  Pearson,  an  officer  in  the 
old  French  war,  and  was  born  in  Exeter.  He  was  well  educated, 
and  in  1786  received  the  appointment  of  Secretary  of  the  State. 
He  was  a  fine  penman,  and  performed  his  duties  so  satisfactorily 
that  he  retained  his  office  for  twenty  years.  He  then  returned  to 
Exeter  to  pass  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  house  was  on  Water 
street,  at  the  summit  of  meeting-house  hill,  which  on  that  account 
was  sometimes  known  as  Secretary's  hill. 

Waddy  V.  Cobbs  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  enlisted  in  the 
United  States  army,  and  so  distinguished  himself  in  the  wars  Avith 
the  Indians  in  the  South,  that  he  was  promoted  to  a  commission. 
In  the  latter  part  of  1814  he  was  in  command  of  a  company,  and 
was  ordered  to  New  Orleans,  and  arrived  there  on  the  ninth  day 
of  January,  1815,  just  one  day  too  late  to  take  part  in  the  famous 
battle.  He  continued  in  the  service  until  he  reached  the  rank  of 
major,  and  then  was  retired  from  active  serAnce  by  reason  of 
paralysis  of  his  loAver  limbs.  He  then  came  to  Exeter,  where  his 
Avife's  relatiA'^es  were,  and  there  lived  until  his  death  January  1, 
1847,  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine.  His  wife  survii^ed  him  more  than 
thirty  years,  and  Avas  A^ery  efficient  in  charitable  and  bencA'olent 
undertakings.  During  the  Rebellion  she  was  at  the  head  of  the 
ladies'  organization  for  the  relief  of  the  soldiers,  and  perhaps  no 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  -397 

one  in  the  town  did  more  than  she  to  supply  the  vohinteers  in 
camp  and  hospital  with  necessaries  and  comforts. 

John  C.  Long  Avas  a  native  of  Portsmouth,  and  a  grandson  of 
Pierse  Long,  a  gallant  Revolutionary  officer,  and  a  member  of  the 
old  Congress.  His  father  was  for  many  years  a  shipmaster.  He 
entered  the  United  States  navy  in  1812  as  a  midshipman.  Only 
four  mouths  afterwards  he  was  on  the  frigate  "Constitution" 
when  she  captured  the  "Java."  It  was  a  trying  introduction  to 
his  new  profession  for  a  youngster  of  sixteen,  but  he  never  repent- 
ed of  the  choice  he  had  made.  He  remained  in  the  service  more 
than  fifty-one  years.  In  this  time  he  was  intrusted  with  every 
variety  of  duty,  afloat  and  ashore,  and  in  all  situations  acquitted 
himself  with  success  and  honor.  One  of  the  most  unpleasant  of 
his  emplo3'ments  was  the  transportation  of  Louis  Kossuth  and  his 
followers  to  this  country  on  board  the  steam  frigate  "Mississippi." 
The  Hungarian  exile  so  entirely  mistook  the  purpose  of  our  gov- 
ernment in  offering  him  a  conveyance  on  a  national  vessel,  that  he 
insisted  on  making  an  inflammatory  address  from  the  ship  to  the 
red  republicans  in  the  harbor  of  Marseilles.  The  captain  firmly 
forbade  conduct  so  certain  to  embroil  us  with  a  friendly  power. 
The  result  was  that  Kossuth  withdrew  from  the  vessel.  Captain 
Long  was  fully  sustained  by  the  government. 

In  1857  Captain  Long  was  promoted  to  the  command  of  the 
Pacific  squadron,  and  became  commodore.  A  severe  accident 
which  he  met  with  on  board  his  flagship  the  "Merrimac,"  almost 
incapacitated  him  for  active  duty.  But  he  served  out  his  term  of 
two  years,  and  then  returned  to  his  home  in  Exeter.  In  1861  he 
was  placed  upon  the  retired  list,  and  died  vSeptember  2,  1865. 

As  an  officer.  Commodore  Long  was  distinguished  for  profes- 
sional knowledge,  fidelity  to  duty  and  a  high  sense  of  honor.  He 
exacted  from  his  subordinates  no  more  than  he  was  willing  to 
perform  himself. 

In  his  social  relations  he  was  unassuming,  kindly  and  generous. 
His  manners  were  marked  by  the  high  bred  ease  and  courtesy  of 
the  old  school.  He  was  emphatically  a  good  man.  The  poor  had 
in  him  a  liberal  and  constant  friend.  And  when  he  quitted  the 
earth  he  left  no  enemy  behind. 

The  colored  population  of  Exeter  has  always  been  more  con- 
siderable, propoi'tionall}^  than  that  of  other  country  towns  in  New 
Hampshire.  In  colonial  times  the  wealthier  inhabitants  held 
slaves,  whose  descendants  remained  domesticated  in  the  place, 


398  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

and  intermarried  with  otliers,  so  tliat  tlieir  numbers  have  been  well 
kept  up.  Several  of  them  fought  for  their  liberties  in  the  War  of 
the  Revolution.  One  of  these  was  Oxford  Tash,  who  died  Octo- 
ber 14,  1810,  at  the  age  of  about  sixty.  He  had  probably  been 
brought  up  a  servant  in  the  family  of  Colonel  Thomas  Tash  of 
Newmarket,  and  perhaps  was  freed  as  a  reward  for  his  military 
service.  He  was  wounded  in  action,  but  with  a  high  sense  of 
honor  refused  to  apply  for  a  pension  so  long  as  he  was  able  to 
support  himself. 

He  left  descendants,  and  his  son,  Charles  G.  Tash,  is  well 
remembered.  He  was  of  excellent  manners,  and  high  spirited  like 
his  father.  He  became  enamored  of  a  white  girl  and  wished  to 
marry  her,  but  her  friends  were  unwilling  that  she  should  become 
his  wife.  He  brooded  over  it  until  his  reason  became  unsettled. 
One  evening  he  called  to  see  her,  and  as  she  bade  him  good  night 
he  discharged  a  pistol  at  her  loaded  with  two  bullets,  which 
severely  wounded  her,  and  with  another  pistol  inflicted  a  wound 
upon  himself.  There  is  little  doubt  that  his  design  was  to  put  an 
end  to  the  lives  of  both.  But  both  recovered.  Tash  was  tried  for 
the  offence  and  found  guilty  of  an  assault  with  intent  to  kill,  but 
was  respited  by  the  court  on  the  ground  of  unsoundness  of  mind. 
Tobias  Cutler,  a  Revolutionary  pensioner,  died  in  Exeter  in 
September,  1834,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six.  He  was  born  in. 
Rindge  and  was  a  slave  of  Colonel  Enoch  Hale.  In  1781  he  en- 
listed  in  the  continental  army  with  the  consent  of  his  master  who 
engaged  to  free  him  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years.  The  town  of 
Rindge  thereupon  agreed  that  he  should  be  received  and  deemed  a 
free  inhabitant,  upon  his  manumission  by  his  master.  After  the 
war  he  came  to  live  in  Exeter.  He  left  descendants  who  are  still 
living  in  the  town. 

Another  colored  Revolutionary  pensioner  was  Jude  Hall  who 
died  in  August,  1827,  at  the  age  of  eighty.  He  was  a  man  of 
powerful  physique,  and  it  is  said  that  the  parts  of  his  ribs  which 
are  usually  cartilaginous  were  of  solid  bone,  so  that  his  vital 
organs  were  inclosed  in  a  sort  of  osseous  case.  He  lived  on  the 
old  road  to  Kensington,  near  the  line  of  that  town.  He  was  the 
chief  witness  of  the  government  in  the  trial  of  John  Blaisdell  for 
the  homicide  of  John  Wadleigh,  and  was  charged  by  the  counsel 
with  a  disposition  to  "  stretch  the  truth,"  but  not,  however,  with 
perjury. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  399 

A  very  remarkable  family  of  colored  preachers  originated  in 
Exeter,  of  the  name  of  Paul.  The  Rev.  iS^athaniel  Paul  -who  had 
been  in  the  ministry  twenty-one  years  died  in  Albany  September 
10,  1839,  at  the  age  of  forty-six,  having,  it  was  said,  been  the 
means  of  much  good.  He  had  two  older  brothers  who  were  also 
Baptist  ministers, —  Thomas,  the  eldest,  who  died  in  Boston,  and 
Benjamin  of  New  York  city. 

One  of  the  centenarians  of  Exeter  was  a  man  of  African 
descent,  Corydon,  who  is  said  to  have  been  once  a  slave  of  Dr. 
John  Phillips.     He  died  in  1818  at  the  age  of  one  hundred  years. 

The  older  inhabitants  recall  many  "characters"  among  the 
colored  population,  London  Daly,  Prince  Light  and  others.  The 
last  named  was  a  favorite  leader  among  them.  Harry  Manjoy, 
sometimes  called  Emery,  is  well  remembered.  He  was  brought  to 
Exeter  by  Noah  Emery,  a  shipmaster,  not  from  Africa,  probably, 
but  from  some  foreign  port  wjiere  he  was  offered  for  sale.  He 
claimed  to  have  been  a  prince  in  his  native  country.  He  lived 
with  Captain  Emery  until  the  latter's  death,  and  afterwards  sup- 
ported himself  by  his  labor.  He  was  industrious  and  respectable, 
and  lived  to  a  good  old  age. 

At  the  southern  extremity  of  what  is  now  Elliott  sti'eet,  formerly 
a  mere  lane,  lived  a  colored  man  named  Whitfield,  whose  wife 
was  quite  a  superior  woman,  belonging  to  the  Paul  family  already 
mentioned.  Their  son,  Joseph  M.  Whitfield,  went  to  Buffalo, 
New  York,  and  there  followed  the  business  of  a  barber.  He  was 
a  man  of  some  education  and  of  decided  talent,  and  was  the 
author  of  poems,  generally'  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  which 
attracted  much  notice.  A  number  of  his  friends  united  in  pub- 
lishing a  volume  of  his  metrical  productions,  in  1853.  They  cer- 
tainly will  compare  favorably  with  those  of  three  out  of  four  of 
the  collections  of  verse  issued  in  the  country. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


26 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

HOMICIDES;  BURIAL-PLACES;  THE  "WHITE  CAPS." 

Since  the  settlement  of  Exeter  by  white  men,  its  annals  have 
been  stained  by  only  four  known  cases  of  homicide.  The  earliest 
and  latest  were  the  most  painful,  the  victim  in  each  case  being  a 
woman. 

Balthazar  Willix  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  education, 
and  came  to  Exeter  about  the  year  1644,  He  had  married,  the 
preceding-  year,  Mary,  the  widow  of  Thomas  Hawksworth,  as  we 
are  informed,  and  she  was  probably  the  unfortunate  person  who 
was  the  subject  of  the  tragedy  about  to  be  related. 

In  the  mouth  of  May  or  June,  1648,  she  went  by  water  from 
Exeter  to  Oyster  river  in  Dover,  to  dispose  of  some  cattle.  She 
seems  to  have  been  a  woman  of  business  capacity,  and  it  may  be 
that  her  husband,  who  was  apparently  a  foreigner,  thought  her 
more  likely  to  be  successful  in  her  dealings  than  himself.  Robert 
Hethersay  or  Hersey,  rowed  her  to  Dover  in  his  canoe,  and 
engaged  also  to  return  with  her  in  the  same  conveyance,  when  her 
business  was  accomplished. 

She  sold  the  cattle,  and  received  payment  partly  in  corn,  and 
the  residue,  three  pounds,  in  money.  Then  she  proceeded  to  the 
lauding  at  Oyster  river,  to  meet  and  return  with  Hersey,  but  he 
was  not  to  be  found.  He  must  have  gone  off  with  his  canoe 
without  waiting  for  her,  for  what  cause  we  know  not. 

What  then  befell  the  poor  woman  can  only  be  conjectured. 
Whether  she  attempted  to  return  home  by  land  or  employed  some 
person  to  transport  her  in  a  boat  is  not  known.  The  fact  that  she 
had  with  her  what  was  then  a  considerable  sum  of  money  was 
undoubtedly  known.  It  proved  a  temptation  to  some  unscrupu- 
lous person  so  powerful  that  it  cost  the  unhappy  creature  her  life. 
Her  dead  body  was  afterwards  found  in  the  river,  bearing  marks 

of  brutal  violence. 

403 


404  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Her  husband  was  shocked,  and  naturally  indignant  with  Hersey 
whose  negligence  he  regarded  as  the  cause  of  the  terrible  calamity, 
and  who,  to  exculpate  himself  had  apparently  made  insinuations 
against  the  character  of  the  murdered  woman.  In  the  heat  of  his 
anger  and  distress  Willix  brought  two  actions  at  law  against  him, 
one  for  failure  to  perform  his  contract  of  re-conveying  the  woman 
to  her  home,  and  the  other  for  defamation,  in  "raising  an  evil 
report "  about  her.  The  unhappy  man,  perhaps,  hoped  by  venti- 
lating the  whole  matter  in  a  court  of  justice,  to  vindicate  the  char- 
acter of  his  dead  wife.  But  he  appears  to  have  been  better 
advised,  before  the  session  of  the  court,  and  never  summoned 
Hersey  to  answer  to  the  suits,  and  they  were  dropped. 

Nothing  further  has  been  learned  respecting  the  case,  and  the 
ruffian  who  perpetrated  the  shameful  deed  was  apparently  never 
brought  to  justice.  Willix  quitted  Exeter  the  following  year,  and 
removed  to  Salisbury,  Massachusetts,  and  died  there  in  March, 
1G51. 

MURDER    OF    JOHNSON. 

Almost  a  century  and  a  half  passed  by,  before  Exeter  lost 
another  inhabitant  by  criminal  violence.  The  second  homicide 
was  committed  in  the  autumn  of  1794.  The  name  of  the  victim 
was  Johnson,  and  his  slayer  was  his  own  sou.  They  lived  on  the 
eastern  side  of  the  river,  near  the  old  jail.  The  father  was  some- 
what given  to  drink,  but  not  quarrelsome.  The  son.  Jack  Johnson, 
followed  the  sea,  was  short  and  thick  in  figure,  and  resented  any 
allusion  to  his  "duck  legs."  He  did  not  get  on  well  with  his 
father,  and  had  been  heard  to  threaten  hun  that  he  would  "come 
up  with  him"  soon. 

One  evening  the  father  and  son  were  at  the  barn  of  Mr.  Grant, 
a  neighbor,  at  a  husking  party.  Old  Mr.  Johnson  was  somewhat 
intoxicated,  and  very  talkative,  and  staid  till  after  the  others  were 
all  gone  ;  then  he  took  his  departure.  That  was  the  last  time  he 
was  seen  alive.  The  next  morning  he  was  missed  at  his  home, 
and  his  son  Jack  went  about  ostensibly  in  search  of  him.  He  first 
made  inquiries  at  Hackett's  ship-yard,  across  the  river,  where 
Joseph  Swasey  was  building  a  vessel.  He  said  to  him  and  the 
workmen  present,  "  I  believe  some  of  you  have  killed  my  father." 
"What's  that  you  say.  Jack,"  replied  Mr.  Swasey,  "you  know 
none  of  us  would  hurt  your  father  —  not  near  as  soon  as  you 
would." 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  405 

Jack  next  went  to  Mr.  Grant's,  and  said  to  the  family,  "  I 
believe  you  have  my  father  hid  in  your  cellar."  They  bade  him 
go  down  aud  see.  He  did  so,  and  made  a  great  show  of  peering 
behind  the  tubs  aud  barrels. 

His  conduct  excited  the  suspicions  of  the  neighbors,  but  they 
did  not  know  enough  to  take  any  decided  steps  against  him. 
Meantime  a  new  vessel  was  going  down  the  river  to  Portsmouth, 
and  Jack  got  on  board  to  go  in  her.  At  night  she  lay  about  a  mile 
below  the  town,  and  he  went  on  shore.  In  the  middle  of  the  night 
he  returned  to  the  vessel  and  crawled  into  the  bunk  with  Mr. 
Swasey,  in  a  state  of  great  fright  and  perturbation. 

At  Portsmouth  he  shipped  with  Captain  (Nathaniel  ?)  Boardman 
for  a  voyage  to  sea.  But  there  was  no  rest  for  him  anywhere. 
The  consciousness  of  crime  so  pursued  him  that  he  was  impelled 
to  confess  all  the  circumstances  of  it  to  the  captain,  and  then  threw 
himself  overboard  into  the  sea  and  perished. 

It  appears  that  he  lay  in  wait  for  his  father's  coming  forth  from 
Grant's,  and  struck  him  down  with  an  axe.  He  dragged  the  body 
to  Clark's  baru  which  stood  alone  in  a  field,  and  buried  it  in  the 
cellar.  Afterwards,  on  the  night  when  he  was  on  his  way  to  Ports- 
mouth, in  the  vessel,  he  disinterred  the  body  and  cast  it  into  the 
river.  It  was  on  his  return  from  this  errand  that  he  manifested 
such  agitation  and  fear. 

Under  the  circumstances,  no  legal  investigation  was  thought 
necessary,  aud  the  wretched  story  of  this  parricide  and  suicide 
does  not  appear  upon  our  criminal  records,  but  has  come  down  to 
us  only  by  imperfect  tradition. 

HOMICIDE    OF    JOHN    WADLEIGH. 

On  the  evening  of  the  eighteenth  of  February,  1822,  John  Wad- 
leigh  of  Exeter  received  injuries  which  resulted  in  his  death  the 
next  morning.  His  home  was  on  the  old  road  to  Kensington,  and 
some  forty  rods  or  more  from  the  line  of  that  town.  Wadleigh 
and  John  Blaisdell  of  Kensington  left  Exeter  village  at  about  half 
past  five  o'clock  in  the  evening,  to  return  to  their  homes.  It  was 
a  dark  and  stoi-my  night,  and  the  walking  was  very  slippery. 
Though  they  were  sober  Avhen  they  started,  Wadleigh  had  in  his 
pocket  q,  bottle  of  rum.  He  carried  with  him  an  axe,  and  Blais- 
dell had  a  rough,  heavy  axe  handle. 

Three  hours  afterwards  the  two  appeared  at  the  house  of  Jude 
Hall,  a  colored  man,  less  than  two  miles  from  the  place  from  which 


406  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

they  took  their  departure,  and  Blaisdell  applied  to  Hall  to  help 
him  to  lead  Wadleigh  iu,  sajung  that  he  was  drunk,  and  "had 
been  fighting  with  a  sleigh."  He  said  that  AVadleigh  would  have 
died  if  he  had  not  taken  hini  up,  and  that  he  had  led  him  from  the 
CoA^e  bridge.  In  fact  he  had  taken  him  directly  past  his  (Wad- 
leigh's)  own  house,  to  Hall's  which  was  thirty  or  forty  rods  beyond. 
Blaisdell  in  explanation  of  this  circumstance  said  he  would  not 
have  carried  Wadleigh  into  his  own  house  for  ten  dollars,  implying 
that  it  would  have  excited  suspicion  that  he  had  inflicted  the  injury 
from  which  Wadleigh  was  suffering. 

Blaisdell  and  Plall  helped  Wadleigh,  who  was  covered  with  blood, 
and  almost  insensible  from  the  effect  of  a  fracture  and  depression 
of  the  sl<ull  at  the  temple,  to  his  own  house,  where  Blaisdell 
remained  but  ten  minutes,  excusing  himself  from  staying  longer 
by  saying  that  he  must  go  home  to  take  care  of  his  cattle.  Hall 
staid  through  the  night  until  Wadleigh  breathed  his  last. 

The  next  morning  a  party  went  to  Blaisdell' s  house  to  arrest 
him  on  the  charge  of  murder,  and  found  that  he  had  disappeared. 
They  followed  him,  by  his  tracks  in  the  snow,  for  many  miles 
through  the  woods,  and  by  cross  roads,  through  Kensington  and 
the  adjoining  towns,  and  at  length  apprehended  him  in  Exeter 
near  the  border  of  Epping, 

On  the  trial  which  took  place  in  the  succeeding  September, 
these  facts  were  shown,  as  well  as  the  following :  The  two  men 
were  seen  by  two  different  parties  not  far  from  the  Cove  bridge, 
on  the  evening  when  Wadleigh  received  his  hurt.  The  first  party 
consisted  of  Robinson  and  Smith,  and  they  were  going  in  a  sleigh 
towards  Exeter.  They  inquired  of  the  two  men,  who  were  standing 
beside  the  road,  how  far  it  was  to  Wedgewood's,  and  were 
answered  by  one  of  them  —  not  by  Wadleigh.  The  other  party 
were  Brown  and  Cheney,  the  former  in  a  sleigh  and  the  other 
walking  beside  it.  They  were  going  in  the  direction  of  Kensing- 
ton, away  from  Exeter.  They  passed  the  two  men  standing  beside 
the  road  near  the  Cove  bridge,  one  of  whom  said  to  Brown,  "  Take 
this  man  aboard,  he  is  drunk  and  has  been  fighting  with  a  sleigh," 
and  stating  that  it  was  John  Wadleigh.  Brown,  who  knew 
Wadleigh,  said,  "  Come  John,  get  in,  I  am  going  by  3'our  house 
and  will  carry  you  home."  Wadleigh  gave  no  answer  to  tliat  nor 
to  a  second  invitation  of  the  same  purport,  but  was  observed  to 
breathe  very  heavily.  Brown  then  said  to  his  companion,  "He 
don't  seem  to  care  about  getting  iu,  and  I  will  go  along,  if  you 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  407 

will  take  care  of  him."     The  other  replied  that  he  would  do  so, 
and  Brown  and  Cheney  went  on. 

Near  the  Cove  bridge  and  about  four  feet  outside  of  the 
travelled  path  of  the  road  was  found  the  next  day  a  great  pool  of 
blood,  "  as  if  a  hog  had  been  killed  there."  The  axe  and  the  axe 
handle  which  the  two  men  carried  were  found  near,  in  the  snow, 
and  the  former  on  the  other  side  of  the  fence.  A  physician  testi- 
fied that  the  fracture  of  Wadleigh's  skull  could  hardly  have 
occurred  from  a  fall  on  the  ice,  nor  from  contact  with  the  runner 
of  a  sleigh,  but  appeared  to  have  been  caused  by  a  blow  from 
some  blunt,  square-cornered  instrument.  There  was  also  slight 
evidence  that  Blaisdell  harbored  a  grudge  against  Wadleigh. 

The  case  was  argued  with  great  ability  by  Ichabod  Bartlett  for 
the  prisoner,  and  by  Attorney  General  George  Sullivan  for  the 
prosecution,  and  the  charge  to  the  jury  was  given  by  Mr.  Justice 
Levi  Woodbury.  The  jury,  after  an  hour's  deliberation,  returned 
into  court  with  a  verdict  of  "  guilty  of  manslaughter,"  and  the 
prisoner  was  sentenced  to  confinement  in  the  State  prison  for  the 
term  of  three  years. 

MURDER    OF    MRS.    FERGUSON. 

Bradbury  Ferguson,  a  native  of  Sandwich,  was  living  in  Exeter 
in  1840,  employed  as  a  journeyman  hatter.  His  home  was  in  the 
western  skirt  of  the  village,  on  the  north  side  of  the  road  leading 
to  Kingston.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Eliza  Ann  Frothing- 
ham,  and  she  was  a  native  of  Portsmouth.  They  had  six  children, 
the  eldest  but  twelve  years  of  age. 

On  the  first  day  of  October  of  that  year,  Ferguson  had  been  at 
the  regimental  muster  at  Epping,  where  he  performed  military 
duty.  He  returned  home  in  the  evening  intoxicated  to  the  point 
of  being  morose  and  quarrelsome.  He  soon  drove  his  wife  to  the 
house  of  a  neighbor  for  protection.  He  followed  her,  and  insisted 
on  her  being  given  up  to  him,  and  used  violence  to  the  neighbor 
who  attempted  to  interfere  in  her  behalf.  The  police  were  sent 
for,  and  arrived  between  ten  and  eleven  o'clock.  Mrs.  Ferguson 
returned  to  her  home  while  they  were  there.  She  complained  to 
them  that  she  had  been  abused  by  her  husband  then  and  at  other 
times.  He  denied  the  charge  and  called  on  her  to  "  show  the 
wounds."  After  a  good  deal  of  conversation,  Ferguson  was 
induced  to  promise  that  he  would  be  quiet  and  not  abuse  his  wife 
anymore  that  night;  but  he  declared  that  in  the  morning  "he 


408  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

would   give   her  a   divorce,  for  he  would   not  live  with  her  any 


more." 


The  poor  wife  at  length  consented  to  pass  the  night  in  the  house 
with  him,  but  with  evident  forebodings.  In  the  night  the  children 
were  awakened  by  the  discharge  of  a  gun.  They  ran  into  their 
mother's  room,  and  found  her  lying  on  the  floor,  and  their  father 
standing  beside  her.  They  asked  him  what  he  had  done,  and  he 
answered  that  he  had  shot  her.  The  wounded  woman  desired  her 
husband  to  lay  her  upon  the  bed,  and  he  did  so.  He  then  inquired 
of  her  where  his  best  clothes  were.  She  told  him.  He  collected 
them  together.  Then  he  looked  at  the  wound  upon  his  wife's 
body,  and  remarked  that  she  would  not  live.  One  of  his  little 
boys  inquired  what  he  shot  his  mother  for.  He  answered  that  she 
provoked  him  to  it.  He  gave  his  gun,  with  which  he  did  the 
deed,  to  his  eldest  son,  and  told  him  he  might  go  and  call  in 
the  neighbors  ;  and  then  gathering  up  his  bundle  of  clothing  he 
left  the  house  and  went  away  on  foot. 

The  unfortunate  woman  lived  but  a  short  time  after  his  depart- 
ure, and  gave  no  account  of  the  circumstances  of  the  shooting. 
Ferguson  was  arrested  four  days  afterwards,  in  Sandwich.  He 
was  indicted  and  tried  for  murder  at  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas 
in  Portsmouth  in  the  following  February.  He  was  ably  defended, 
but  his  guilt  was  manifest,  and  the  jury  rendered  a  verdict  of 
guilty  of  murder  of  the  second  degree  ;  on  which  he  was  sentenced 
to  imprisonment  for  life.  He  died  in  the  State  prison  several 
years  ago. 

BURIAL-PLACES. 

In  the  two  hundred  and  fifty  years  of  Exeter's  history,  five 
successive  places  have  been  used  for  the  general  burial  of  the 
dead.  The  earliest  was  on  the  northwestern  slope  of  meeting- 
house hill,  near  the  site  of  the  first  unpretending  house  of  worship. 
This  was  probably  in  use  for  the  first  two  generations.  No  doubt 
some  rude  stones  were  originally  set  up  to  mark  the  spots  where 
the  bodies  lay,  and  the  ground  was  held  sacred  for  a  time.  Tlie 
Rev.  Mr.  Dudley  was  permitted  by  the  town  to  enclose  it,  and  to 
pasture  his  cattle  upon  its  herbage,  provided  he  should  not  attempt 
to  cultivate  it  or  break  its  surface.  But  for  a  long  time  past  no 
traces  of  memorial  stones  have  been  visible  there,  and  all  feeling 
of  sanctity  about  the  spot  has  vanished. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  409 

The  next  place  of  sepulture,  in  the  order  of  time,  was  a  beauti- 
ful knoll  on  the  west  side  of  the  salt  river,  near  the  present  gas 
works.  So  far  as  can  be  gathered  from  the  remaining  tomb- 
stones, its  use  extended  from  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  to 
the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century.  It  has  been  sometimes 
called  the  "Thing  burying  ground,"  perhaps  because  several  of 
the  inscriptions  still  legible  upon  the  head-stones  commemorate 
persons  of  that  name.  There  are,  however,  an  equal  number 
bearing  the  names  of  early  members  of  the  family  of  Ladd,  and 
those  have  been  enclosed  by  a  neat  and  durable  fence,  erected  in 
1850  by  Alexander  Ladd,  a  descendant.  Only  a  part  of  the  origi- 
nal contents  of  this  burial-place  is  now  marked  by  mounds  or 
monuments.  Within  the  memory  of  living  men  the  graves  ex- 
tended on  both  sides  of  the  elevation,  to  the  lower  ground  beyond, 
but  no  traces  of  them  are  now  perceptible.  All  the  mortuary 
inscriptions  remaining  in  1864  were  copied  by  the  Rev.  Elias 
Nason,  and  published  in  the  sixteenth  volume  of  The  Ntto  England 
Historical  and  Genealogical  Register.  One  of  the  monuments, 
from  which  the  inscription  plate  has  been  removed,  is  thought  on 
probable  evidence  to  be  that  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Dudley.  This 
place  of  burial  became  disused  when  in  169G  the  new  meeting- 
house was  erected  "on  the  hill  between  the  great  fort  and 
Nat.  Folsom's  barn,"  the  site  of  the  present  First  church.  The 
yard  surrounding  the  meeting-house  was  then  devoted,  after 
the  English  fashion,  to  burials.  For  a  long  period,  most  of  the 
dead,  except  in  the  remoter  districts,  were  interred  there.  There 
rest  the  remains  of  two  or  three  of  the  clergymen,  and  of  a  great 
number  of  those  who  were  the  pillars  of  the  religious  and  civil 
society,  in  their  day  and  generation.  The  church-yard  was  origi- 
nally much  more  capacious  than  it  now  is,  and  has  been  repeat- 
edly curtailed  by  the  widening  of  the  street  and  of  the  sidewalk  in 
front  of  it.  It  remained  in  use  for  probably  almost  a  hundred 
years,  and  must  have  been  overcrowded  at  last. 

Early  in  the  present  century,  on  the  sole  authority  of  a  few  of 
the  leading  men  of  the  town,  all  the  tomb  and  head  stones  were 
removed  from  the  yard,  or  levelled  to  the  ground  and  covered  with 
earth,  so  that  in  a  little  time  the  enclosure  was  overgrown  with 
turf,  and  all  marks  of  the  tenants  beneath  were  substantially 
obliterated. 

On  what  grounds  this  apparent  act  of  vandalism  was  justified, 
we  cannot  imagine.     Yet  it  is  clear  that  it  met  the  approval  of  the 


410  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

majority  of  tlie  people,  or  it  could  not  have  been  accomplished,  at 
least  without  the  most  strenuous  opposition.  But  it  is  not  learned 
that  the  least  objection  was  made.  It  must  be  supposed  that 
weighty  reasons  were  in  existence  for  so  extraordinary  a  step, 
which  we  cannot  appreciate.  The  loss  which  it  caused  to  the 
antiquary  and  the  investigator  of  family  history,  is  well  nigh 
irreparable. 

About  the  year  1742  Colonel  John  Gilman  devised  to  the  town 
a  tract  of  land  for  a  burial-place,  upon  the  condition  which  was 
seasonably  complied  with  that  it  should  be  fenced  within  three 
years.  It  is  situated  upon  the  north  side  of  Front  street,  west  of 
the  railroad,  and  extends  across  to  Winter  street.  It  thus  became 
the  fourth  public  burying-yard  of  the  town,  and  continued  in  use 
about  a  century.  The  remains  of  the  Rev.  Daniel  Rogers,  of 
John  Taylor  Gilman,  of  Jeremiah  Smith  and  of  many  other  dis- 
tinguished citizens  there  repose.  The  opening  of  the  new  ceme- 
tery in  1844  nearly  put  an  end  to  burials  in  this  inclosure,  and 
naturally  it  fell  into  neglect.  It  became  overgrown  with  weeds 
and  bushes,  and  was  in  sad  need  of  an  Old  Mortality  to  prevent 
further  dilapidations.  One  of  the  citizens,  unwilling  that  it 
should  share  the  fate  of  its  predecessors,  recently  took  steps  that 
resulted  in  the  appropriation  by  the  town  of  a  sum  of  money  for 
the  restoration  and  improvement  of  the  burying-place,  so  that  its 
lease  of  existence  is  prolonged  for  a  season. 

This  fourth  buryiug-ground  having  been  filled,  past  further 
service,  several  gentlemen  of  the  town  in  1843  conceived  the  plan 
of  establishing  a  private  cemetery  which  could  be  inci'eased  in 
extent  as  occasion  might  require,  and  would  be  permanent  and 
not  liable  to  be  abandoned  and  neglected.  For  this  purpos-e  they 
organized  under  the  statutes  of  the  State  a  company  incorporated 
as  the  Exeter  Cemetery  Association.  Dr.  D.  W.  Gorham,  Amos 
Tuck,  Henry  F.  French,  James  Burley  and  Charles  C.  P.  Moses 
were  the  principal  promoters  of  the  scheme. 

They  procured  a  lot  of  land  and  laid  it  out  for  the  purpose. 
The  lots  found  purchasers  readily,  and  the  cemetery  has  now  been 
in  use  for  more  than  forty  years.  It  is  situated  somewhat  too 
near  the  village,  perhaps,  but  the  successive  enlargements  which 
have  increased  its  dimensions  to  thirty  acres  or  more,  have  all 
been  in  the  opposite  direction.  It  is  well  i)lanted  with  trees  and 
shrubs,  and  is  an  attractive  spot.  Much  good  taste  has  been 
manifested  in  the  fitting  and  ornaments  of  the  lots,  and  in  the 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  411 

monumeuts  erected  upon  tliein.  The  late  William  P.  Moultoii 
was  at  his  decease  president  of  the  Association,  Charles  Barley  is 
the  treasurer,  and  William  II.  Belknap  the  secretary. 

In  addition  to  the  public  burial-places  enumerated,  another 
situated  in  the  soutliwestern  part  of  the  town,  near  Great  hill, 
should  be  mentioned.  It  is  for  local  use,  and  its  age  has  not 
been  ascertained. 

There  are  also  several  private  or  family  burying-yards  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  town.  Two  of  them  are  near  the  main  village, 
on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  and  have  been  used  chiefly,  if  not 
wholly,  by  the  families  of  Leavitt  and  Folsom  respectively. 

TFIE    "white    caps." 

A  natural  transition  from  the  subjects  of  the  earlier  part  of 
this  chapter,  murders  and  church-yards,  would  be  to  ghostly 
apparitions  and  tlie  diabolical  pranks  of  witches,  if  there  were 
any  such  to  relate.  But  in  the  times  when  the  great  witchcraft 
delusion,  two  centuries  ago,  subverted  the  religion  and  the  common 
sense  of  the  people  of  other  neighboring  places,  Exeter  main- 
tained its  equipoise.  A  town  of  so  much  antiquity  might, 
perhaps,  be  expected  to  have  its  old  time  traditions,  at  least, 
of  visitations  from  the  unseen  world,  but  none  such  have  been 
heard  of.  Not  a  haunted  house  is  known  to  the  oldest  inhabitant. 
Nearly  everything  that  can  be  said  to  verge  on  the  supernatural, 
is  modern.  A  story  is  indeed  told  of  the  re-appearance  of  an 
elderly  gentleman  after  his  decease,  for  the  purpose  of  warning 
his  youthful  widow  that  she  must  follow  him  within  a  year,  which 
she  did.  But  the  story  is  only  a  single  generation  old,  and  has 
excited  curiosity  rather  than  awe. 

One  house,  in  which  a  servant  girl  accidentally  inflicted  a  fatal 
wound  upon  herself  with  a  pistol,  is  said  to  have  been  avoided 
since  by  her  countrywomen,  but  it  was  never  asserted  that  her 
spirit  walked  there.  Another  house  was  for  a  time  the  scene  of 
some  strange  and  inexplicable  freaks  of  self-propelling  articles  of 
furniture,  and  the  like  ;  but  it  never  received  a  bad  name  on  that 
acccunt. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  last  century,  however,  an  occurrence 
took  place  in  the  town,  which  denoted,  at  least,  that  the  belief  in 
the  existence  of  supernatural  agencies  was  common.  Indeed  we 
know,  from  various  sources,  that  at  that  time,  and  much  later, 


412  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

the  mass  of  the  people  hardly  questioned  the  existence  of  witches, 
or  the  appearance  and  interposition  in  human  affairs  of  disem- 
bodied spirits.  This  credulity  was  often  taken  advantage  of  by 
the  mischievous  to  cause  affright,  and  by  the  mercenary  to  extort 
money.  Unprincipled  impostors  are  known  to  have  travelled  the 
country  to  work  upon  the  hopes  and  fears  of  those  whom  they 
could  influence  by  pretending  to  magical  powers,  in  order  to 
swindle  them  out  of  their  property. 

One  such  sharper,  a  perfect  Dousterswiyel  in  the  art  of  impos- 
ture, was  named  llainsford  Rogers.  He  was  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, but  lived  also  in  Massachusetts  and  in  New  York. 
Though  illiterate  he  was  once  a  school  teacher.  He  pretended  to 
a  deep  knowledge  of  chemistry,  and  claimed  that  he  possessed  the 
power  to  raise,  or  to  lay,  spirits,  good  and  evil,  at  his  pleasure. 
He  began  his  career  of  operating  on  the  superstitious  belief  of 
people,  at  Morristown,  New  Jersey,  in  1788.  There  he  succeeded 
in  defrauding  his  followers  out  of  a  large  sum  of  money,  by  the 
pretence  that  he  could  secure  for  them  a  concealed  treasure, 
through  the  agency  of  the  spirits.  Then  he  absconded.  The 
story  of  his  methods  of  deluding  his  dupes  is  told  at  large  in  a 
little  volume  entitled  The  Morristown  GJiost,  published  soon  after 
the  occurrence. 

The  same  person,  with  sometimes  a  different  name,  was  said  to 
have  depleted  the  pockets  of  the  people  in  several  of  the  Southern 
States,  afterwards,  by  similar  means.  In  1797,  he  appeared  in 
Adams  county,  Pennsylvania,  under  the  alias  of  Rice  Williams. 
There,  with  a  confederate  or  two,  he  repeated  his  tricks  upon  con- 
fiding persons,  and  succeeded  in  making  oft"  with  a  considerable 
sum. 

It  was  not  far  from  that  time  that  he  came  to  Exeter,  bearing 
his  true  name  of  Rainsford  Rogers,  which  had,  perhaps,  not 
acquired  so  bad  an  odor  in  New  England  as  in  some  other  quarters. 
In  a  short  time  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of  a  number  of  persons 
whom  he  judged  to  be  suitable  for  his  purpose.  They  were,  of 
course,  men  of  substance,  able  to  furnish  the  money  which  he  was 
planning  to  transfer  to  his  own  pocket,  and  sufficiently  credulous 
to  put  entire  faith  in  his  representations.  When  he  had  enlisted 
a  dozen  or  more,  after  fully  sounding  them,  he  broached  to  them 
his  project.  He  informed  them  that  he  had  reason  to  believe  that 
a  subterranean  treasure  of  great  value  existed  in  the  neighborhood, 
which,  by  his  magical  skill  and  with  proper  means  and  aid,  he 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  413 

could  discover  and  appropriate  for  their  common  benefit.  He 
secretly  visited  several  localities  for  the  pui-pose  of  "  prospecting," 
and  at  meetings  of  his  followers,  reported  his  discoveries.  So 
skilful  was  he  in  stimulating  their  greed,  and  so  plausible  in 
explaining  every  successive  step  of  his  operations,  that  they  never 
dreamed  of  any  trick  or  dishonesty,  but  followed  all  his  directions 
to  the  letter. 

He  repeatedly  conducted  them  on  dark  nights  to  out-of-the-way 
places,  to  dig  in  the  swamps  with  spades  and  other  implements, 
and  kept  them  at  work,  sometimes,  it  is  said,  for  hours,  in  delving 
for  the  hidden  prize.  He  instructed  them  that  on  those  expedi- 
tions it  was  essential  that  they  should  wear  white  caps  —  a  circum- 
stance which  afterwards  gave  the  name  to  the  company.  On  one 
of  the  nocturnal  excursions  there  appeared  before  the  eyes  of  the 
awe-stricken  diggers  a  figure  all  in  white,  representing  a  spirit, 
which  uttered  some  words  which  were  not  well  understood.  One 
of  the  "  white  caps,"  anxious  to  lose  nothing  of  the  weighty  com- 
munication, responded  —  "a  little  louder,  Mr.  Ghost ;  I'm  rather 
hard  of  hearing !" 

But  dig  as  diligently  as  they  might,  they  reached  no  treasure. 
After  a  time  Rogers  disclosed  what  he  declared  to  be  the  reason 
of  their  want  of  success.  The  golden  deposit  was  there,  beyond 
question  ;  but  they  needed  one  thing  more  to  enable  them  to  find 
and  grasp  it.  That  was  a  particular  kind  of  divining-rod.  It 
must  be  made  of  dear  materials,  but  it  was  infallibly  sure  of 
doing  the  business.  It  could  not  be  obtained  this  side  of  Pliila- 
delphia,  and  would  cost  several  hundred  dollars.  But  if  they 
would  contribute  the  necessary  sum,  he  would  at  once  proceed  to 
Philadelphia,  purchase  the  needful  implement  and  then  return  and 
introduce  them  to  a  golden  hoard  that  would  reimburse  them  a 
hundred-fold  for  their  advances. 

It  is  a  marvel  that  the  faith  of  his  adherents  was  not  shaken  by 
so  transparent  a  device,  but  he  had  tutored  them  so  adroitly  that 
their  cupidity  got  the  better  of  their  caution  and  common  sense. 
The  deluded  company  raised  the  money  required,  and  delivered  it 
to  the  sharper,  who  mounted  his  horse,  with  a  saddle  and  bridle 
borrowed  from  one  of  his  dupes,  and  rode  off  —  to  parts  unknown, 
never  to  return. 

It  was  but  a  little  time  after  his  departure  before  the  whole 
affair  was  made  public.  The  white  caps  had  not  held  their  clan- 
destine meetings  unobserved.     Each  midnight   rendezvous,  each 


414  HISTOKY  OF  EXETER. 

delviug  excursion  in  the  swamps,  had  been  watched,  and  all  their 
credulity  and  imbecility  were  revealed.  The  worthy  but  super- 
stitious persons  who  had  been  seduced  into  this  ridiculous  position, 
became  heartily  ashamed  of  themselves,  and  prayed  that  their 
folly  might  never  be  mentioned.  But  the  joke  was  too  good  to 
be  kept  in  silence,  and  many  a  sly  allusion  to  their  white  head-gear 
made  their  ears  tingle  for  years  after.  The  deaf  man  who 
required  the  ghost  to  "speak  a  little  louder "  never  heard  the 
last  of  his  unfortunate  speech. 

The  names  of  most  of  the  sufferers  by  this  imposture  have  been 
preserved,  but  as  their  conduct  was  weak  rather  than  culpable,  to 
publish  them  could  serve  only  to  gratify  an  idle  curiosity,  and 
might  cause  pain  to  the  feelings  of  their  descendants. 

Possibly  the  exposure  of  this  fraud  may  have  had  a  beneficial 
effect  upon  succeeding  generations.  The  belief  in  the  supernatu- 
ral does  not  appear  to  have  misled  any  to  similar  acts  of  credulity 
in  later  years.  Digging  for  hidden  treasure  has  never  been 
attempted  in  the  town,  since  the  memorable  experience  of  the 
"white  caps." 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

THINGS  NEW  AND  OLD. 

The  town  of  Exeter  is  noted  for  its  fine  ornamental  trees.  In 
the  early  years  of  the  century  the  Lombardy  poplars  in  trim  rows 
mounted  guard  around  the  principal  edifices,  but  they  did  not  take 
kindly  to  the  northern  climate.  The  stately  sycamores  were  next 
introduced,  but  those,  too,  drooped,  and  disappeared.  Maples 
and  elms  supplied  their  places,  and  thrive  in  the  congenial  soil, 
o-iving  refreshing  shade  and  adding  beauty  to  the  village. 

The  elms  are  not  all  of  recent  growth.  Some  of  them  can 
boast  a  life  more  than  double  that  usually  assigned  to  man. 

The  oldest  elm  in  Exeter  is  probably  that  which  stands  in  front 
of  the  house  of  tlie  late  Isaac  Flagg  on  Front  street.  A  hundred 
and  fifty-eight  years  ago  the  residence  of  Judge  Nicholas  Gilman 
was  there.  His  son,  the  Kev.  Nicholas  Gilman,  afterwards  of 
Durham,  on  the  third  of  April,  1730,  according  to  his  diary,  "  set 
out  elms  before  father  Gilmau's  house."  The  father  died  in  1741 
and  his  son  followed  him  in  1748.  How  long  the  house  stood  we 
know  not,  but  the  elms  lived  on  and  survived  them  all. 

One  of  them  had  a  narrow  escape  from  destruction  in  the  early 
part  of  the  present.century.  Tlie  axe  was  already  laid  at  its  root, 
when  Colonel  Nathaniel  Gilman,  who  loved  a  fine  tree,  interposed. 
''  What  are  you  going  to  cut  that  elm  down  for?"  he  inquired  of 
the  occupant.  "  For  firewood."  "  Let  the  tree  stand,"  said  the 
colonel,  "  and  I'll  give  you  a  load  of  firewood."  The  offer  was 
accepted  and  the  doom  of  the  tree  was  averted  for  the  time. 

When  Deacon  John  Williams  purchased  the  lot,  about  1828,  two 
of  the  elms  were  standing  in  the  prime  of  their  beauty,  and  he  was 
very  proud  of  them.  "  I  gave  five  hundred  dollars  for  the  lot," 
said  he,  "  and  I  would  not  take  that  sum  for  the  trees."  But 
since  then  one  of  them  has  succumbed  to  the  ravages  of  time,  and 
has  disappeared.  The  other  is  still  standing,  and  has  been  stayed 
by  iron  bolts,  where  the  branches  diverge  from  the  trunk.     It  has 

415 


416  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

now  seen  more  than  a  liimdred  and  sixty  snmmers  and  winters. 
Eight  generations  may  have  enjoyed  its  shade,  from  Judge  Nich- 
olas Gilman  to  his  great-great-great-grandson  who  is  now  living. 

The  old  tree  is  a  living  link  that  binds  us  to  the  distant  past. 
Long  may  it  continue  to  lift  on  high  its  venerable  crown. 

A  notice  of  a  few  of  the  old  houses  in  Exeter  and  of  their  occu- 
pants, will  not  be  out  of  place  here.  The  distinctive  names  given 
them  are  those  by  which  they  have  been  popularly  known.  The 
first  is  ' 

THE    CLIFFORD    HOUSE. 

The  oldest  house  in  the  town  is  undoubtedly  that  on  the 
northerly  corner  of  AVater  and  Clifford  streets,  now  owned  by 
Manly  W.  Darling.  It  was  built  by  Councillor  John  Gilman.  He 
was  living  in  it  in  1676,  and  there  is  ground  for  the  belief  that  it 
dates  back  to  1658.  It  was  constructed  of  square  logs,  the  upper 
story  projected  a  foot  or  more  beyond  the  lower,  and  the  windows 
were  scarcely  more  than  loop-holes.  It  was  thus  completely 
adapted  for  the  defence  of  its  inmates  against  the  attacks  of  the 
savages,  and  is  known  as  a  "  garrison  house." 

The  original  structure  was  small,  and  constitutes  the  main  body 
of  the  present  house.  No  doubt  additions  must  have  been  soon 
made  to  it,  for  the  first  occupant  had  sixteen  children,  all  but  four 
of  whom  lived  to  maturity.  The  wing  which  protrudes  towards 
the  street  was  a  much  later  appendage. 

In  this  wooden  castle  lived  Councillor  Gilman  till  his  death  in 
1708.  His  son.  Colonel  John  Gilman,  succeeded  him  in  the 
ownership  of  the  house.  He  was  then  about  thirty-two  years  of 
age,  with  a  wife  and  three  or  four  children.  He  was  active  and 
energetic,  and  acquired  property  and  influence.  In  1719  and  1720 
he  was  licensed  by  the  provincial  Assembly  to  keep  a  place  of 
public  entertainment  in  "his  log  house  by  the  bridge."  Colonel 
Gilman  was  the  father  of  eleven  children,  and  died  in  1740. 

His  eldest  son  was  Peter,  born  in  1703,  and  married  seven  days 
after  reaching  the  age  of  twenty-one.  His  father,  realizing  that 
no  house  is  large  enough  for  two  generations,  then  proceeded  to 
build  himself  another  dwelling  near  by,  to  which  he  presently 
removed  ;  and  in  1732  executed  to  Peter  a  deed  of  gift  of  the  old 
mansion. 

Peter's  family  would  not  be  considered  a  small  one  in  these 
degenerate  days.     He  had  seven  daughters,  but  it  Avas  doubtless 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  417 

a  sore  trial  to  him  that  he  had  uo  sou  to  inherit  the  house  that  his 
grandfather  built,  so  as  to  "keep  it  in  the  name."  Peter  Oilman 
was  a  man  of  note,  in  civil  and  military  life.  He  was  Speaker  of 
the  House  of  Assembly  and  a  councillor  of  the  province,  and  rose 
to  the  rank  of  brigadier  general  in  the  militia,  through  his  exploits 
in  the  French  and  Indian  wars.  He  was  mucli  esteemed  by  his 
townsmen.  It  is  related  that  on  one  occasion  a  press-gang  came 
from  Portsmouth  to  Exeter  to  seize  meu  to  serve  in  his  majesty's 
navy,  but  the  brigadier  warned  the  party  that  any  whom  they 
might  capture  would  surely  be  rescued  before  they  reached  Strat- 
ham,  and  they  desisted.  When  the  separation  between  the  mother 
country  and  her  American  colonies  was  impending,  the  brigadier 
felt  bound  by  the  oaths  of  allegiance  he  had  taken  to  Britain,  to 
set  his  face  against  all  disloyal  proceedings.  If  he  liad  been  less 
respected  by  his  neighbors,  he  would  have  been  tabooed,  or 
perliaps  maltreated,  by  the  "  high  sons  of  liberty  ;  "  but  no  insult 
was  offered  to  him. 

He  was  a  man  of  strong  religious  feelings,  and  a  great  admirer 
of  the  evangelist  Whitefield.  An  amusing  story  has  been  pre- 
served of  his  being  so  deeply  affected  by  a  discourse  of  the  great 
preacher  that  he  fairly  rolled  on  the  ground,  in  an  agony  of 
penitence.  Of  course  when  the  schism  took  place  in  the  First 
society  in  1743,  the  brigadier  went  off  into  the  new  church,  and 
became  one  of  its  chief  supporters. 

It  was  during  Peter  Oilman's  occupation  of  the  house  that  the 
front  wing  was  added  to  it.  It  was  probably  built  in  1772  or 
1773,  while  he  was  a  councillor.  John  Wentworth  was  then  the 
governor,  young,  popular  and  fond  of  show  and  ceremony.  His 
Exeter  councillor,  the  first  in  the  place  since  the  century  came  in, 
was  desirous  of  showing  him  due  honor,  on  occasion  of  his  visiting 
the  town.  The  low-storied  rooms  of  the  old  house  seemed  hardly 
suitable  for  the  reception  of  the  highest  dignitary  of  the  province. 
The  brigadier,  therefore,  had  this  addition  made  to  it,  of  two 
stories,  so  as  to  lodge  the  governor,  and  perhaps  to  furnish  a 
chamber  for  the  meeting  of  the  council  also.  The  whole  was 
finished  inside  with  panelled  work,  in  the  elaborate  style  of  the 
joinery  of  the  time. 

As  the  brigadier  left  no  sou  to  succeed  him  in  the  homestead, 
the  place  after  his  death  in  1788  went  into  the  possession  of 
Ebenezer  Clifford,  who  removed  from  Kensington  to  Exeter  about 
that  time.     He  was  an  ingenious  mechanic,  and  studied  architect-. 


418  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

lire  aud  made  scientific  experiments  outside  of  his  regular  calling. 

He  manufactured  a  diving  bell,  with  which  he  brought  up  from 
the  bottom  of  the  sea  valuable  property  from  one  or  more  wrecked 
vessels.  A  relic  of  the  old  diving  bell  is  still  extant.  It  is  the 
wooden  duck  which  now  serves  as  a  weather  vane  upon  the  rear 
wing  of  the  old  house.  This  was  the  float  by  means  of  which  the 
diver  in  the  water  below,  was  enabled  to  communicate  his  Avauts 
to  his  assistant  in  a  boat  at  the  surface. 

While  Mr.  Clifford  was  master  of  the  house  he  had  for  a  boarder 
a  lad  who  was  destined  at  a  later  day  to  become  the  pride  and 
boast  of  two  States,  that  of  his  birth,  education,  and  professional 
training,  and  that  of  his  matured  powers  and  later  life.  Daniel 
Webster  came  to  Exeter  to  attend  the  Phillips  Academy  in  1796, 
and  was  an  inmate  of  Mr.  Clifford's  family  for  several  months. 
He  had  lived  in  a  frontier  settlement  without  instruction  in  the 
minor  graces  of  life,  and  was  habitually  guilty  of  some  breach  of 
etiquette  at  the  table,  which  Mv.  Clifford  was  desirous  of  cor- 
recting. But  knowing  that  young  Webster  was  diffident  and 
sensitive  he  was  reluctant  to  hurt  his  feelings  by  pointing  out  the 
fault  directly.  Trusting  to  the  youth's  quick  sightedness  to  make 
the  proper  application,  he  one  day  reproved  his  apprentice,  who 
in  the  homely  fashion  of  the  time  sat  at  table  with  the  family,  for 
committing  the  self-same  fault  which  he  had  observed  in  AVebster. 

He  did  not  overrate  the  latter's  discernment.  Never  again  did 
he  give  cause  for  criticism  on  that  account. 

THE    DEAN    HOUSE. 

On  the  site  of  the  present  town-house,  formerly  stood  a  hand- 
some dwelling  with  a  gambrel  roof,  which  dated  from  about  the 
year  1724.  It  was  erected  by  Nathaniel  Oilman,  or  by  his  father 
Judge  Nicholas  Oilman  for  him.  He,  according  to  tradition,  was 
commonly  known  as  "  Oentleman  Nat,"  probably  on  account  of 
his  nicety  of  dress  or  manners.  He  was  a  man  of  property  and 
lived  handsomely,  but  died  at  an  early  age,  leaving  a  widow  and 
one  or  more  children.  The  eldest  of  these,  John  Phillips  would 
have  afterwards  taken  to  wife,  but  she  preferred  another.  He 
therefore  wooed  and  won  her  mother,  the  widow,  in  despite  of  a 
slight  disparity  in  their  ages,  she  being  forty-one  while  he  was 
but  twenty-seven.  But  she  was  well  dowered.  It  is  highly 
probable  that  they  occupied  the  house  after  their  marriage,  but 
this   is    not   positively  asserted.     At    a  later   date    Mr.  Phillips 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  4iy 

erected  for  himself  a  house  on  the  north  side  of  Water  street  near 
by,  and  there  lived  with  his  second  wife,  until  his  death. 

Joseph  Gilman  resided  in  the  earlier  habitation,  afterwards, 
through  the  Revolution,  and  until  his  emigration  in  1788,  to  the 
Ohio  country,  which  in  those  days  was  a  greater  undertaking  than 
it  now  is  to  cross  the  continent.  He  had  obtained  a  thorough 
business  traiaing  in  Boston,  and  returned  to  Exeter  in  1761  to 
become  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Gilman,  Folsom  &  Gilman,  which 
was  largely  engaged  in  commerce  and  trade.  He  was  then  a 
widower,  but  in  1763  married  again,  and  probably  at  that  time 
set  up  his  establishment  in  the  house.  He  made  a  singular  dis- 
covery there.  In  the  middle  of  the  structure  was  a  large  stack  of 
chimneys.  Between  the  flues  was  a  secret  repository,  left  perhaps 
for  the  purpose  of  concealment  of  property  or  persons,  and  in  it 
he  found  deer-skin  pouch  filled  with  old  French  crowns.  The 
history  of  the  deposit  he  could  never  learn,  but  suspected  that 
some  former  occupant  had  bestowed  his  stock  of  specie  in  this 
secret  storehouse,  when  he  was  about  departing  on  some  hazard- 
ous errand,  to  the  Indian  or  French  wars,  and  never  returned, 
nor  revealed  the  secret  to  others. 

During  the  Revolution  the  house  was  the  place  of  meeting  of 
the  Committee  of  Safety  of  the  State,  of  which  Mr.  Gilman  was  a 
member,  and  a  resort  of  the  Whigs,  of  the  town  and  elsewhere. 
The  second  Mrs.  Gilman  was  a  superior  and  highly  accomplished 
woman.  To  some  of  the  young  French  officers  who  were  in  the 
American  army  it  was  a  great  boon  to  visit  Exeter  and  converse 
with  a  lady  who  understood  their  language  so  thoroughly,  and 
was  accustomed  to  the  elegancies  of  life.  The  Gilmans  had  no 
lack  of  distinguished  visitors.  One  of  them  was  Samuel  Adams. 
It  was  in  the  darkest  hours  of  the  Revolutiou.  His  spirits  were 
depressed,  and  not  even  Mrs.  Gilman's  sprightly  talk  could  rouse 
him  to  cheerfulness.  He  walked  the  room  and  wrung  his  hands. 
"  Oh  God,"  he  cried,  "  must  we  give  it  up  !  "  His  ailment  was 
one  which  nothing  but  a  military  success  could  relieve. 

Not  many  years  after  Mr.  Gilman  left  Exeter,  John  Gardner 
came  there  to  live.  He  married  Deborah,  daughter  of  Ward  Clark 
Dean,  and  occupied  the  house  that  Mr.  Oilman  quitted.  Mr. 
Gardner  was  a  native  of  Boston,  and  became  a  merchant.  Of  a 
confiding  disposition,  he  suffered  himself  to  become  responsible 
for  others,  until  he  failed  in  business.  His  creditors  pocketed 
their  percentage  and  reconciled  themselves  to  a  loss  in  which  there 


420  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

was  nothing  dishonorable.  But  he  did  not.  He  never  rested  until 
he  was  able  to  repay  to  every  creditor  the  full  amount  of  his 
claim,  with  interest.  Mr.  Gardner  is  remembered  by  the  older 
citizens,  as  a  man  of  pleasant  address,  and  remarkable  even  after 
he  had  long  passed  his  threescore  years  and  ten,  for  his  cheerful- 
ness and  buoyancy  of  spirits. 

Somewhere  about  the  year  1820,  probably,  Mr.  Gardner  built 
the  house  on  Court  square  now  occupied  by  his  grandchildren,  and 
removed  into  it.  His  father-in-law.  Ward  C.  Dean,  then  came 
into  the  occupation  of  the  old  habitation,  and  resided  there  until 
his  decease  in  1828;  after  which  his  widow  lived  there  till  her 
death  in  1843.  Jn  1855  the  laud  on  which  the  house  stood  was 
purchased  by  the  town,  and  the  present  town-house  was  erected 
there.  The  old  building  was  razeed  by  cutting  away  one  of  its 
stories,  and  removed  to  Franklin  street,  where  it  now  remains. 

THE    LADD    HOUSE. 

On  a  little  elevation  a  few  rods  south  of  Water  street  is  the 
residence  of  John  T.  Perry.  It  has  an  old  time  look,  never 
having  been  modernized  without,  so  that  no  one  can  see  it  without 
feeling  that  it  has  a  history.  It  consists  of  two  sections,  of  differ- 
ent dates,  the  earlier  of  which  was  built  by  Nathaniel  Ladd  in  1721 
or  soon  after.  It  was  of  brick,  which  is  now  covered  with  wood, 
to  correspond  with  the  portion  which  was  added  later. 

The  Ladd  family  is  an  old  one  in  the  town.  We  have  already 
mentioned  one  of  the  name  who  sounded  the  trumpet  in  Gove's 
rebellion  against  Governor  Cranfleld,  and  was  afterwards  slain  in 
an  expedition  against  the  Eastern  Indians.  There  were  other 
notable  characters  in  the  famil}'.  Simeon  Ladd,  who  came  upon 
the  stage  at  least  three  generations  afterwards,  was  keeper  of  the 
jail.  He  was  something  of  a  wag,  and  the  president  of  a  society 
of  choice  spirits  called  the  "  Nip  Club,"  who  used  to  assemble  at 
one  of  the  taverns  on  regular  evenings  for  convivial  purposes. 
He  perhaps  inherited  a  tendency  to  eccentricity  from  his  father, 
who  is  said  to  have  long  kept  a  ready  made  coffin  in  his  house  to 
meet  an  emergency,  and  who  invented  a  pair  of  wings  which  he 
fondly  believed  would  enable  him  to  cleave  the  air  like  a  bird, 
until  he  tried  the  experiment  from  an  upper  window. 

Eliphalet  Ladd  was  born  in  1744,  and  while  young  developed 
much  aptitude  for  business.  He  was  a  shipmaster  and  merchant 
during  the    Revolutionary  contest,  and  made  at  least  one  voyage 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  421 

iu  the  war  time  to  the  West  Indies,  from  which  he  returned  after 
an  absence  of  sixty  days,  with  a  cargo  of  rum,  molasses,  etc. 
His  vessel  was  several  times  chased  by  English  men-of-war.  He 
also  built  several  ships,  one  of  which  was  among  the  largest  ever 
launched  iu  Exeter,  and  was  called  the  Archelaus.  She  was  of 
about  five  hundred  tons,  and  was  nearly  three  years  in  building. 
Captain  Ladd's  energy  and  pluck  were  rewarded  by  the  acquisition 
of  a  competency.     In  1792  he  removed  to  Portsmouth. 

His  son,  William  Ladd,  born  in  Exeter  in  1778,  and  a  graduate 
of  Harvard  College,  was  well  knovvn  as  the  "  apostle  of  peace." 

The  Nathaniel  Ladd  who  built  the  house  which  is  under  notice 
had  two  sons,  to  whom  he  conveyed  it,  and  who  probably  occupied 
it  until  1747  when  it  was  bought  by  Colonel  Daniel  Oilman.  His 
son  Nicholas  then  moved  into  it.  This  was  "Treasurer"  Nich- 
olas Oilman  who  was  afterwards  distinguished  as  the  financier  of 
New  Hampshire  in  the  Revolution.  He  had  three  sons,  John 
Taylor,  afterwards  governor  of  the  State  many  years,  Nicholas, 
an  officer  of  the  Revolution  and  a  senator  of  the  United  States, 
and  Nathaniel  who  was  State  senator  and  treasurer.  The  father 
was  a  man  of  much  business  and  many  cares.  He  was  a  devoted 
Whig,  notwithstanding  he  was  a  particular  friend  of  the  royal 
governor,  who  would  have  sacrificed  much  if  he  could  have 
secured  Mr.  Oilman's  support  to  the  British  cause.  In  his  capac- 
ity of  treasurer  of  the  State  he  had  his  ofiice  in  this  house,  and 
there,  no  doubt,  he  affixed  his  handsome  signature  to  the  paper 
bills  of  credit  to  which  the  State  and  the  country  were  obliged  to 
resort,  to  carry  on  the  war.  The  treasurer  lived  to  thankfully 
witness  the  termination  of  hostilities  and  the  virtual  establishment 
of  the  independence  of  his  country,  and  died  April  7,  1783. 

His  eldest  son,  John  Taylor  Oilman,  next  owned  and  occupied 
the  mansion,  and  it  was  during  his  tenancy,  no  doubt,  that  the 
narrow  street  upon  which  it  is  situated  received  the  designation  of 
"  Oovernor's  lane."  About  the  year  1815  he  removed  to  the 
dwell inar  on  the  south  side  of  Front  street,  which  was  afterwards 
his  home,  and  the  old  house  came  into  the  occupation  of  Colonel 
Peter  Chad  wick,  a  native  of  Deerfield,  it  is  believed.  He  long 
held  the  office  of  Clerk  of  the  Courts.  An  honorable,  high  minded 
gentleman,  he  was  much  respected,  and  is  pleasantly  remembered 
by  the  older  residents.  He  died  in  1847,  but  his  family  resided 
in  the  house  for  many  years  after. 


422  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

The  old  mansion  at  length  came  into  the  possession  of  the 
present  owner,  a  descendant  of  Treasurer  Gilman,  who  appre- 
ciates it,  and  has  improved  and  adorned  it  without  sacrificing  its 
antique  character.  It  is  a  remarkable  coincidence  that  Mr.  Perry- 
moved  into  the  dwelling  in  April,  1883,  just  one  hundred  years  to 
a  day  after  the  death  of  his  great-grandfather  there. 

THE    ROWLAND    HOUSE. 

The  square  edifice  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Park  and  Summer 
streets,  which  is  surmounted  by  a  hipped  roof  with  overhanging 
eaves,  was  erected  quite  early  in  the  last  century  and  was  occupied 
for  two  or  three  generations  by  families  of  the  name  of  Giddinge. 
Zebulon  Giddinge  was  married  in  1724  at  the  age  of  twenty-one, 
and  probably  lived  in  the  house  from  that  time  to  his  death  in 
1789.  He  was  chosen  representative  to  the  Assembly  nine  years, 
and  clerk  of  the  town  thirty-nine.  He  was  an  innkeeper,  and  his 
house  stood  by  the  road  over  which  all  the  lumbermen  hauled  their 
logs  to  the  river  side.  Naturally,  he  did  a  large  business  in  dis- 
pensing liquid  refreshments.  It  was  at  his  house  that  the  partici- 
pants in  the  mast-tree  riot  in  1734  assembled  to  put  on  their 
disguise  of  Natick  Indians,  and  perhaps  to  prime  themselves  for 
their  illegal  undertaking.  At  a  much  later  date  meetings  used  to 
be  held  there  for  a  more  creditable  purpose  ;  —  for  consultations 
on  the  irritating  course  of  the  British  Parliament  towards  the 
colonists,  and  how  best  to  unite  the  whole  people  in  measures  of 
resistance. 

Dr.  John  Giddinge  was  a  son  of  Zebulon,  as  was  also  Colonel 
Eliphalet,  who  continued  to  live  in  the  house  after  his  father's 
death.  The  colonel  was  engaged  in  ship-building  and  lumbering. 
He  had  a  son  Nathaniel  who,  while  quite  young,  exhibited  superior 
talents  for  business.  His  father  naturally  encouraged  him  and 
pushed  him  forward.  He  was  popular  and  was  early  appointed  a 
colonel  of  the  fourth  regiment  of  militia,  a  rank  which  conferred 
distinction,  but  cost  no  small  amount  of  time  and  expense  to  meet 
the  expectations  of  the  oflflcers  of  his  command.  His  father  built 
for  him  the  stately  house  on  the  plains,  which  was  subsequently 
occupied  by  Jeremiah  Smith,  and  after  him  by  Joseph  L.  Cilley. 
But  the  young  man  was  a  fast  liver,  and  died  before  he  reached 
middle  age. 

Eliphalet  Giddinge  survived  until   1830,  and  his  successor  in 
the  paternal  residence  was  the  Rev.  William  F.  Rowland,  who 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  423 

was  bis  son-in-law.  Mr.  Rowland  had  resigned  the  pastorship  of 
the  First  church  in  1828,  and  was  never  again  settled  over  a 
society.  He  died  in  1843,  and  his  children  continued  to  live  in 
the  house  until  the  death  of  the  last  surviving  daughter  in  1886. 
The  house  is  now  the  property  of  Dr.  Charles  H.  Gerrish. 

THE    ODIORNE    HOUSE. 

On  the  corner  opposite  to  the  house  just  described  is  another 
which  for  more  than  fifty  years  past  has  been  occupied  by  Mrs. 
Bickford,  and  was  built  about  1737  by  Major  John  Gilman,  whose 
losses  at  Fort  William  Henry  are  recorded  on  pages  236  and 
237.  It  has  the  gambrel  roof  characteristic  of  its  time,  and  is 
a  fine  specimen  of  colonial  architecture.  Major  Gilman  spent  the 
residue  of  his  life  in  it.  He  was  the  owner  of  a  slave  whose  three 
sons  were  the  colored  preachers  of  the  name  of  Paul,  referred  to 
in  a  former  chapter. 

Major  Gilman  had  twelve  children,  the  eldest  of  whom  became  the 
wife  ot  Deacon  Thomas  Odiorne  who  lived  in  the  house  after  the 
death  of  its  first  owner,  until  his  own  death  in  1819.  The  deacon 
was  a  worthy,  patriotic  citizen  and  had  the  respect  of  all.  His 
widow  survived  him  about  ten  years.  Not  long  after  her  decease, 
the  house  came  near  being  the  scene  of  a  double  tragedy.  It  was 
in  one  of  its  rooms  that  Charles  G.  Tash,  as  has  already  been 
i-elated,  attempted  to  take  the  life  of  Sally  Moore,  a  white  girl, 
and  of  himself,  but  fortunately  failed  to  inflict  a  fatal  hurt  upon 
either. 

THE    HILDRETH    HOUSE. 

Upon  the  triangular  lot  at  the  intersection  of  Front  and  Linden 
streets  is  a  large  dwelling  which  evidently  belongs  to  two  periods. 
The  easterly  portion  of  it  is  the  older,  and  was  built  about  the 
year  1730  by  Daniel,  son  of  Judge  Nicholas  Gilman.  Twenty- 
five  years  afterwards  he  was  commissioned  colonel  of  the  militia, 
and,  according  to  tradition,  then  enlarged  his  house  with  the 
western  addition,  in  order  to  receive  as  a  guest  Governor  Benning 
Wentworth,  who  was  about  to  pay  a  visit  to  Exeter.  Colonel 
Daniel  Gilman  was  a  large  fai-mer  and  trader,  and  employed  as  a 
servant  John  Dudley,  afterwards  judge  of  the  Superior  Court, 
who  owed  to  his  employer  the  encouragement  and  assistance  that 
enabled  him  to  develop  his  native  powers  and  attain  his  high  posi- 


424  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

tiou.  The  Rev.  George  Whitefield  had  iu  Colonel  Gilman  a  stanch 
friend  and  admirer.  When  he  visited  Exeter  for  the  last  time, 
and  preached  there  his  final  sermon,  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  Sep- 
tember, 1770,  it  is  recorded  that  he  "dined  with  Captain  [Col.] 
Gilman,"  Whitefield  commenced  his  service  in  the  forenoon  of 
that  day  in  the  church  of  the  Second  parish,  but  as  it  was  found 
altogether  insufficient  to  accommodate  the  throng  who  assembled 
to  hear  him,  he  was  obliged  to  preach  outside.  In  order  to  avoid 
the  shining  of  the  sun  in  his  face  he  crpssed  the  street,  and 
mounted  upon  a  board  laid  upon  a  couple  of  hogsheads,  from 
which  he  addressed  his  congregation.  ]n  the  afternoon  he  rode 
with  the  Eev.  Mr.  Parsons  to  Newburyport.  But  he  had  long- 
overtaxed  his  strength,  and  his  hours  were  numbered.  The  next 
morning  he  breathed  his  last. 

Colonel  Gilman  died  suddenly  in  church,  of  apoplexy,  in  17H0. 
His  son,  Dr.  Nathaniel  Gilman,  succeeded  to  the  ownership  of  the 
house,  but  survived  his  father  a  few  3'ears  only.  The  house  then 
passed  through  several  hands  into  the  possession  of  the  Rev. 
Hosea  Hildreth,  who  resided  in  it  during  his  stay  in  P^xeter. 

It  is  now  occupied  by  two  families,  those  of  Mrs.  Samuel  Til  ton 
and  of  the  Rev.  Noah  Hooper. 

THE    PEABODY    HOUSE. 

The  house  on  the  south  side  of  AVater  street  now  owned  by 
Warren  F.  Putnam  was  erected  by  Sanniel  Gilman,  who  moved 
into  it  November  3,  1725,  and  lived  there  during  the  succeeding 
sixty  years.  He  was  an  innkeeper,  a  colonel  and  a  judge.  In 
1734  he  entertained  the  party  sent  by  Surveyor  General  David 
Dunbar  from  Portsmouth  to  Exeter  to  discover  what  mast  trees 
had  been  illegally  felled,  when  the  stalwart  woodsmen  broke  in 
upon  them  and  gave  them  entertainment  of  a  very  different  nature. 

After  the  death  of  the  worthy  builder,  the  habitation  was  pur- 
chased by  Oliver  Peabody,  and  he  with  his  interesting  family 
lived  there  till  1831.  Jeremiah  Dow,  a  tanner,  and  a  man  of 
much  force  of  character,  succeeded  to  the  occupancy  of  the  house. 
Since  his  time  the  property  has  had  several  owners,  and  has 
undergone  such  transformations  that  it  is  difficult  now  to  realize 
that  the  house  has  seen  a  hundred  and  sixty-three  years. 

THE    OILMAN    HOUSE. 

The  large  gambrel  roofed  house  on  Front  street  nearly  opposite 
the  Baptist  church  is  above  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  old,  and 


HISTORY  OF  EXETEK.  425 

was  erected  by  Dr.  Dudley,  son  of  the  Eev.  John  Odlin.  Dying 
in  middle  life  he  devised  it  to  his  kinsman  Dr.  John  Odlin.  After 
occupying  it  twenty  years  or  more,  the  latter  transferred  his 
residence  to  Concord,  and  sold  the  house  to  Colonel  Nathaniel 
Gilman.  His  home  it  was  until  his  death.  It  was  truly  the 
abode  of  plenty  and  good  cheer.  The  colonel  was  a  public 
spirited  citizen,  interested  in  trade,  in  manufactures  and  in  agri- 
culture, and  with  a  large  acquaintance  in  the  State.  His  wife  was 
the  impersonation  of  hospitality.  Their  children  were  numerous, 
and  popular.  They  literally  kept  open  house.  On  public  occa- 
sions, especially,  their  rooms  and  table  overflowed  with  guests. 

Colonel  Gilman  died  in  1847,  and  the  house  was,  afterwards, 
the  home  of  his  widow,  and  of  his  youngest  son  Joseph  T.  Gilman, 
until  his  decease  in  18G2.  His  Avidow  married  Charles  H.  Bell, 
and  they  now  occupy  the  house. 

THE    TILTON    HOUSE. 

On  the  southeast  corner  of  Water  street  and  Court  square,  is  a 
house  which  enjoys  the  distinction  of  having  once  sheltered  the 
Father  of  his  country.  It  was  built  by  Colonel  Samuel  Folsom, 
in  1770  or  the  following  year,  to  replace  a  former  house  which 
had  been  burned,  on  the  same  spot.  The  account  of  Washing- 
ton's visit  to  Exeter  in  1789  is  given  on  a  previous  page.  Colonel 
Folsom  died  the  year  following,  and  his  family  continued  to 
reside  there.  One  of  his  daughters  was  afterwards  married  to 
Joseph  Tiltou,  an  Exeter  law^^er,  who  lived  in  the  house  until  his 
decease  in  1872.     It  is  now  owned  by  Dr.  George  W.  Dearborn. 

There  are  other  houses  in  the  town  of  perhaps  equal  antiquity 
with  those  named,  but  space  is  wanting  to  describe  them.  The 
Feavey  house  on  the  Newmarket  road  is  one  of  the  most  ancient 
and  curious  ;  the  Colcord  house  on  the  plains  is  covered  with  plank 
for  the  purpose  of  defence,  and  has  been  styled  a  half  gari'ison 
house  ;  the  Leavitt  house  on  the  corner  of  Front  and  Winter 
streets  is  very  early,  and  contains  a  good  deal  of  panelling. 
Unfortunately  for  the  lover  of  antiquity  many  of  the  older  dwell- 
ings have  been  so  much  modernized  that  their  real  age  can  hardly 
be  detected. 

STATISTICS  ;    SOCIETIES  ;    LOCALITIES. 

The  town  of  Exeter  is  situated  in  the  southeastern  part  of 
New  Hampshire,  a  little  east  of  the  centre  of  the  county  of  Rock- 


426  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

ingham.  It  is  nine  miles  from  the  sea,  and  fifty  miles  almost 
northerly  from  Boston,  with  which  it  is  connected  by  the  Boston 
and  Maine  Railroad  opened  in  1840.  It  is  a  half  shire  town,  and 
is  the  seat  of  the  county  offices,  of  the  clerk  of  the  Judicial 
Courts,  the  Registry  of  Deeds,  and  of  Probate.  They  contain  the 
records  of  the  entire  province  up  to  the  year  1771,  when  it  was 
divided  into  counties,  and  of  the  county  of  Rockingham  since  that 
date.  Two  terms  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  are  held  in  the 
town  annually,  and  a  term  of  the  Court  of  Pr.obate  monthly. 

The  census  shows  that  the  population  has  about  doubled,  since 
the  beginning  of  the  century.  In  1800  it  w^as  1727;  in  1820, 
2114  ;  in  1850,  3274  ;  in  1880,  3569.  The  assessed  value  of  the 
taxable  property  in  1887  was  $3,197,884. 

The  public  buildings  of  the  town  are  a  town-house  containing  a 
count}'  court-room,  another  used  for  the  public  library  and  other 
purposes,  eight  houses  of  public  worship,  the  buildings  of  the 
Phillips  Exeter  Academy,  the  Robinson  Female  Seminary  and  the 
High  School,  and  Opera  House,  the  county  record  offices  and  the 
jail. 

Three  weekly  newspapers  are  published  in  the  town,  besides  a 
weekly  paper  and  monthly  journal  issued  by  the  students  of  the 
Academy  during  term  time. 

The  Washmgton  Lodge  of  F.  and  A.  Masons  was  established  in 
the  town  early  in  the  century,  and  was  discontinued  some  years 
after,  but  was  revived  about  1820  under  the  name  of  i\xQ'Phoenix 
Lodge.     This  was  kept  up  ten  or  twelve  years. 

Star  in  the  East  Lodge  No.  59  was  instituted  in  1857,  and  has 
furnished  the  following  officers  of  the  Grand  Lodge  :  Charles  H. 
Bell  and  John  J.  Bell,  Grand  Masters ;  Charles  G.  Conner, 
Samuel  M.  AVilcox,  Jeremiah  D.  Parker  and  Joseph  S.  Parsons, 
Deputy  Grand  Masters.  The  present  chief  officers  of  Star  in  the 
East  Lodge  are,  George  N.  Cross,  W.  M.,  Joseph  E.  Knight, 
S.  W.,  Edmund  E.  Freeman,  J.  W.,  William  F.  Rundlett,  Sec, 
and  William  H.  C.  Follansby,  Tr. 

St^.  Albans  Royal  Arch  Chapter  was  constituted  in  1869.  Its 
present  chief  officers  are  Charles  G.  Conner,  H.  P.,  John  P.  P. 
Kelly,  A".,  Winthrop  N.  Dow,  S.,  George  W.  Weston,  Sec, 
Robert  C.  Thomson,  Tr. 

Sagamore  Lodge  JSfo.  9,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  was  established  in  1845. 
It  became  dormant  in  1864,  but  was  revived  in  1873.  It  has 
furnished   one    Grand   Master  of   the  Grand    Lodge,  James  W. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  427 

Odlin.  The  present  chief  officers  of  Sagamore  Lodge  are  S. 
Abbott  Lawrence,  N.  G.,  Charles  L.  Palmer,  V.  G.,  G.  W. 
Wetherell,  ^ec,  John  P.  Elkins,  Tr. 

Swamscot  Lodge  No.  2,  K.  of  P.^  was  instituted  April  6,  1870. 
Its  present  chief  officers  are  F.  E.  Rollins,  C.  C,  Adolphus 
Smart,  V.  C,  J.  Warren  Tilton,  K.  of  B.  &  S.,  John  S.  Hayes, 
M.  ofE. 

Moses  N.  Collins  Post  No.  26,  G.  A.  7?.,  was  established  in 
1870.  Its  chief  officers  are  A,  J.  Gilman,  Com..,  B.  F.  Rowe, 
S.  V.  C,  G.  L.  Stokell,  J.  V.  C,  G.  W.  Gadd,  Adft,  Lewis  E. 
Gove,  Q.  M. 

Jady  Hill  is  the  eminence  rising  from  the  east  bank  of  salt 
river,  just  below  the  village.  From  the  earliest  times  it  has  been 
called  by  that  name.  The  derivation  of  it  cannot  be  learned. 
Some  have  fancied  it  was  a,  corruption  of  shady  hill,  but  for  no 
better  reason  than  the  resemblance  of  the  words. 

Bride  Hill  is  an  elevation  on  the  Hampton  road  about  three 
miles  from  the  Great  bridge,  and  is  in  fact  just  over  the  line  in 
the  town  of  Hampton.  A  romantic  story  of  the  marriage  of  a 
pair  of  lovers  in  the  olden  time  under  the  "  bridal  elm,"  a  sym- 
metrical tree  on  the  side  of  the  hill,  is  told,  but  not  verified.  The 
hill  has  long  borne  the  name. 

Ass  Brook,  which  crosses  the  road  to  Hampton  about  two  miles 
east  from  the  village,  has  been  so  styled  from  the  very  earliest 
times,  but  from  what  circumstance  is  unknown.  The  claim  that 
it  was  originally  Ash  brook  is  unsupported  by  early  documents. 

WlieelwrigMs  Creek,  which  crosses  the  road  to  Stratham,  within 
a  mile  from  the  village,  received  its  name  from  the  founder  of 
Exeter. 

PoiveWs  Point  is  a  projection  of  the  east  bank  into  the  salt 
river  between  Wheelwright's  creek  and  the  village.  Its  name 
came  from  Robert  Powell,  an  early  settler. 

The  Round-about  is  a  bend  in  the  salt  river,  a  couple  of  miles 
below  the  village,  in  the  shape  of  a  horse-shoe. 

The  Oak  Lands  is  the  name  affixed  to  a  large  tract  of  woodland 
containing  many  oaks,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town. 

Beech  Hill  is  an  elevation  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  town, 
about  four  miles  from  the  village. 

Bloody  Brook  crosses  the  road  to  Eppiug  about  two  and  a  half 
miles  from  the  village.  Its  name  is  probably  derived  from  the 
dark  color  of  the  bed  of  the  stream. 


428  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Fresh  Meadow  is  the  name  given  to  a  tract  of  low  land  adjoin- 
ing the  Brentwood  line  about  midway  between  its  two  extremities. 

The  Mast  Swamp  Road  leads  from  the  western  part  of  the  town 
towards  Epping. 

Great  Hill  is  a  commanding  eminence  at  the  point  where  the 
corners  of  the  townships  of  Exeter,  East  Kingston  and  Brentwood 
come  together. 

Eockfj  Hill  is  on  the  road  to  Hampton,  about  three-fourths  of  a 
mile  from  the  Great  bridge. 

Tower  Hill  is  an  ascent  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  nearest  the 
Great  bridge. 

Town  Hill  is  in  the  village,  near  the  intersection  of  Main  and 
Water  streets. 

The  Plains  is  the  name  given  to  the  level  stretch  of  land  in  the 
northwestern  part  of  the  village. 

Other  names  of  localities,  that  have  not  become  obsolete  in 
Exeter  and  in  the  towns  which  once  belonged  to  it,  have  been 
heretofore  referred  to.  There  were,  however,  in  the  earlier  times 
places  whose  designations  were  then  familiar  as  household  words, 
but  have  long  been  disused  and  forgotten.  Who  now  can  tell 
where  was  the  Nursery,  the  Temple,  or  the  Patent  land, — -places 
doubtless  well  known  a  century  ago  ?     Probably  no  man  living. 

Does  not  this  render  it  likely  that  other  things,  well  under- 
stood by  the  fathers,  have  since  their  time  perished  from  memory, 
and  should  it  not  make  us  distrustful  of  passing  upon  their  con- 
duct, judgments  liable  to  be  based  upon  inadequate  knowledge  ? 


APPENDIX. 


APPENDIX  I. 

THE  INDIAN  DEED  OF  1629  TO  WHEELWRIGHT  &  ALS. 

Whereas  wee  the  Sagamores  of  Penacook,  Pentucket,  Squam- 
squot  &  Nuchawanick  are  Inclined  to  have  y"  English  Inhabitt 
amongst  us,  as  they  are  amongst  our  Countrymen  in  the  Massa- 
chucets  bay,  by  w'^''  means  wee  hope  in  time  to  be  strengthnecl 
against  our  Enemyes  the  Tarratens  who  yearly  doth  us  Damage  : 
Likewise  being  Perswaided  y'  itt  will  bee  for  the  good  of  us  and 
our  Posterety  &c'.  To  that  end  have  att  a  generall  meeting  (att 
Squamsquot  on  Piscataqua  River)  wee  the  afores*^  Sagamores  w"'  a 
universall  Consent  of  our  subjects  doe  Covenant  and  agree  w"'  the 
English  as  followeth  :  Now  Know  all  men  by  these  Presents  that 
wee  Pass^icouaway  Sagamore  of  Penacook,  Ruuawitt  Sagamore  of 
Pentucket,  wahangnonawitt  Sagamore  of  Squamscott,  and  Rowls 
Sagamore  of  Newchawanick,  for  a  Compitent  Valluation  in  goods 
allready  Received  in  Coats,  Shurts  &  victualls,  and  alsoe  for  y* 
Considerations  afores*^  doe  (according  to  y^  Limits  and  bounds 
hereafter  granted)  give,  grant,  bargaiue,  sell,  Release  Rattafie  and 
Contirme,  unto  John  Whelewright  of  y"  Massachucets  baye  Late 
of  England,  A  minister  of  y^  Gospel,  Augustin  Story,  Thom^  Wite, 
W""  Wentworth  and  Thom'  Levitt,  all  of  y"  Massachucetts  baye  in 
New  England,  to  them  their  heires  and  Assignes  forever,  all  that 
part  of  y'^  maine  Land  bounded  by  the  River  of  Piscataqua  and 
the  River  of  Merrimack,  that  is  to  say,  to  begin  att  Newchewanack 
ffalls  in  Piscataqua  River  afores*^,  and  soe  Doune  s*^  River  to  the 
sea,  and  soe  alongst  the  sea  shore  to  merrimack  River,  and  soe  up 
along  s*^  River  to  the  falls  att  Pentucett  afores**,  and  from  s"^  Pen- 
tucett  ffalls  upon  a  Northwest  Line  twenty  English  miles  into  the 
woods,  and  from  thence  to  Run  upon  a  Streight  line  North  East  & 
South  West  till  meete  w"'  the  maine  Rivers  that  Runs  down  to 
Pentucket  falls  &  Newchewanack  ffalls,  and  y"  s*^  Rivers  to  be  the 
bounds  of  the  s''  Lands  from  the  thwart  Line  or  head  Line  to  y^ 
afores*^  ffalls,  and  y''  maine  Channell  of  each  River  from  Pentucket 

431 


432  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

&  Newcliewanack  ffalls  to  the  maine  sea  to  bee  the  side  bounds, 
and  the  maine  Sea  betweene  Piscataqua  River  And  Merrimack 
River  to  be  the  Lower  bounds,  and  the  thwart  or  head  Line  that 
runs  from  River  to  river  to  be  y®  uper  bound  ;  Togeather  w'**  all 
Hands  w*  in  s*^  bounds,  as  alsoe  the  lies  of  S holes  soe  Called  by 
the  English  togeather  w""  all  Proffitts,  Advantages  and  Appurte- 
nances whatsoever  to  the  s'^  trixct  of  Land  belonging  or  in  any 
wayes  appertaineiug  ;  Reserveing  to  our  Selves  Liberty  of  makeing 
use  of  our  old  Planting  Land,  as  alsoe  ffree  Liberty  of  Hunting, 
flishiug  and  fowling  ;  and  itt  is  Likewise  w"^  these  Proviseos  ffol- 
lowing  viz'. 

First,  that  y"  s*^  John  Wheelewright  shall  w"*  in  ten  years  after 
the  date  hereof  sett  Doun  w"'  a  Company  of  English  and  begin  a 
Plantation  att  Squamscott  ffalls  In  Piscataqua  River  af ores'*. 

Secondly,  that  what  other  Inhabitants  shall  Come  &  Live  on  s** 
Tract  of  Land  Amongst  them  from  Time  to  Time  and  att  all  times 
shall  have  and  Enjoye  the  same  benefitts  as  the  s'*  Whelewright 
af  ores'*. 

Thirdly,  that  If  att  any  time  there  be  a  numb''  of  People 
amongst  them  that  have  a  mind  to  begin  a  new  Plantation  that 
they  be  I^ncouraged  soe  to  doe,  and  that  noe  Plantation  Exceede 
in  Lands  above  ten  English  miles  Squaire,  or  such  a  Proportion  as 
amounts  to  ten  miles  Squaire. 

Fourthly,  that  y*"  afores''  granted  Lands  are  to  be  Divided  into 
Tounshipps  as  People  Increase  and  appeare  to  Inhabitt  them,  and 
that  noe  Lands  shall  be  granted  to  any  p''ticular  p''sou  but  what 
shall  be  for  a  Township,  and  what  Lands  w^'in  a  Township  is 
granted  to  any  Perticular  Persons  to  be  by  vote  of  y^  major  part 
of  y^  Enhabitants  Legally  and  ord''ly  settled  in  s'*  Township. 

Fifthly  for  manageing  and  Regalateing,  and  to  avoide  Conten- 
tions amongst  them,  they  are  to  be  under  the  Goverment  of  the 
Collony  of  the  Massachusetts  (their  neighbours)  and  to  observe 
their  Laws  and  ord'"  untill  they  have  a  settled  Goverment  Amongst 
themselves. 

Sixthly  wee  the  afores**  Sagamores  and  our  Subjects  are  to  have 
free  Liberty  (w*in  the  afores**  granted  tract  of  Land)  of  fflshing, 
fowling,  hunting  &  Planting  &c. 

Sevently  and  Lastly  every  Township  w*in  the  aforesaid  Limits 
or  tract  of  Land  that  hereafter  shall  be  settled  shall  Paye  to 
Passaconaway  our  Cheife  Sagamore  that  now  is,  &  to  his  succes- 
sors forever,  If  Lawfully  Demanded  one  Coats  of  Trucking  Cloath 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


433 


a  year  &  every  yeare  for  an  Ackuowledgraent,  and  also  shall  Paye 
to  M"'  John  Whelewright  afores'*  his  heires  and  successors  forever, 
If  Lawfully  Demanded,  two  bushills  of  Indian  Corne  a  yeare  for 
and  in  consideration  of  said  Whelewright's  great  Paiues  &  Care 
as  alsoe  for  y^  Charges  he  have  been  att  to  obtain  this  one  grant 
for  himselfe  and  those  aforementioned,  and  the  Inhabitants  that 
shall  hereafter  settle  In  Townships  on  y^  aforesaid  granted  Prem- 
ises :  And  wee  the  afores'^  Sagamores,  Passaconaway  Sagamore  of 
Penecook,  Runawitt  Sagamore  of  Pentucet,  Wahangnouawitt  Sag- 
amore of  Squaamscott  and  Rowls  Sagamore  of  Newchewanack  doe 
by  these  Presents  Rattafie  and  Contirme  all  y''  afore  granted  and 
bargained  Premises  and  Tract  of  Land  afores'^  (excepting  & 
Reserving  as  afore  Excepted  &  Reserved  &  the  Proviseos  afores"^ 
f unfilled)  w'^  all  the  meadow  and  Marsh  grounds  therein. 
Togeather  w"^  all  the  mines  Mineralls  of  what  Kind  or  Nature 
soever,  with  all  the  Woods  Timber  and  Timber  Trees,  Ponds, 
Rivers,  Lakes,  runs  of  Water  or  Water  Courses  thereunto  belong- 
ing, with  all  the  ffreedome  of  ffishinge,  ffowlinge,  and  Hunting  as 
ourselves  with  all  other  benefitts,  Proffltts,  Privledges  and  Appur- 
tenances whatsoever  thereunto,  of  all  and  any  Part  of  the  said 
Tract  off  Land  belonging  or  in  any  wayes  Appertaineinge,  unto  him 
the  said  John  Whelewright,  Augustin  Storer  Thomas  Wite, 
William  Wentworth  and  Thomas  Levitt  and  their  heires  forever 
as  afores"^.  To  have  and  to  hold  y"  same  As  then-  owne  Proper 
Right  and  Interest,  without  the  Least  Disturbance  Mollestation  or 
Troble  of  us,  oar  heires,  Execcutors,  and  Administrators,  to  and 
with  the  said  John  Whelewright  Augustin  Storer  Thomas  Wite 
William  Wentworth  and  Thomas  Levitt  their  heires  Execcutors, 
Administrators  and  assignes  and  other  the  English  that  shall 
Inhabitt  there  And  their  heires  and  assignes  forever,  shall 
Warrant  Mainetaine  and  Defend.  In  Wittnes  whereof  wee  have 
Hereunto  sett  our  hands  and  scales  the  Seventeenth  day  of  May 
1629  And  in  the  fflfth  yeare  of  King  Charles  his  Reigne  over 
England  &c'. 

Signed  Sealed  &  Delivered 
In  Presents  off  us. 


Wadargascom     mark 
MiSTONOBiTE     mark 
John  Oldham 


Passaconaway    mark 
RuNAWiT     mark 
Wahangnownawit     mark 


28 


434  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Sam^^  Sharpe  Rowls     mark  * 

Memorand"  ;  on  y"  Seventeenth  day  of  maye  one  thousand  six 
hundred  twenty  &  nine,  In  the  ffifth  year  of  the  Reigne  of  our 
Sovereigne  Lord  Charles  King  of  England,  Scotland  ffrance  & 
Ireland,  Defend^'  of  y''  ffaith  &cK  Wahangnownawit  Sagamore 
of  Squamscot  in  Piscataqua  River,  did  in  behalfe  of  himselfe  and 
the  other  Sagamores  aforementioned  then  Present,  Deliv""  Quiett 
&  Peaceable  Possession  of  all  y"  Lands  mentioned  in  the  w*in 
writen  Deed,  unto  the  w*in  named  John  Whelewright  for  the  ends 
w*in  mentioned  in  Presents  of  us  Walter  Nele  Governer  Geo. 
Vaughan  ffacktor  and  ambros  Gibins  Trader  for  y^  Company  of 
Laconia,  Rich*^  Vines  Governer  and  Rich'^  bonithan  Assistant  of 
y*  Plantation  of  Sawco,  Thom^  Wiggin  agent  and  Edward  hiltou 
Steward  of  the  Plantation  of  Hiltons  Point,  and  was  signed 
sealed  &  Delivered  In  our  Presents. 

In  Wittness  whereof  we  have  hereunto  sett  our  hands  the  day 
&  yeare  above  Written. 

RiCH°  Vines  Walter  Neale 

RiCH°  BoNiTHON  Geo.  Vaughan 

Thon^  Wiggin  Ambrose  Gibbins 

Edward  Hilton 
Entered  and  Recorded  According  to  the  originall  the  20th  may 
1714. 

Pr.  WM.  Vaughan  Record"". 


*The  marks  or  totems  of  the  Indians  are  affixed  to  their  names  as  follows:  Passa- 
conaway,  a  man  with  extended  arms;  Runawit,  a  deer's  antlers;  Wahangnownawit, 
a  bow  and  arrow;  Rowls,  a  one-armed  man.  What  the  marks  of  the  two  Indian 
witnesses,  Wadargascom  and  Mistonobite,  are  intended  to  represent,  it  is  not  easy 
to  say. 


APPENDIX  II. 

TRANSCRIPTS  OF  THE  EXETER  RECORDS,   1639  TO   1644. 

Certaine  ord'"  made  at  the  Co'*'  houldeu  in  Exeter  the  4"'  day  of 
the  first  wealve  in  the  10"^  Month,  1639. 

Imprimis.  That  M^  Edward  Hilton  his  vpland  ground  is 
bounded  in  Breadth  from  the  Creeke  next  from  his  house  towards 
Exeter  on  the  one  side  &  a  Certaine  point  of  Land  ov'"  against 
Captaine  Wiggins  his  howse  between  the  Mash  and  the  vpland 
that  his  bounds  one  the  oth''  side  and  it  is  to  extend  into  the 
maine  the  same  distance  in  Length  as  it  is  in  Breadth,  and  that  he 
shall  have  all  the  meadowes  w*"''  hee  formerly  ocupied  from  his 
howse  to  the  mouth  of  Lamprell  River. 

2*^  Lye.  That  all  the  Meadowes  w"^  belonge  vnto  the  Toune  of 
Exeter,  leying  betweene  the  Townes  and  mr.  Hilton's  howse,  as 
Likewise  the  Meadowes  from  Lamprell  River  vnto  the  head  of 
the  little  Baye  shall  be  equally  devided  into  fouer  parts  whereof 
the  4*  p'"  shall  be  devided  by  lott  to  such  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  Towne  of  Exeter  as  have  noe  Cattle  or  fower  Goats,  and  the 
profitt  of  the  haye  w*"''  [now]  growes  thereupon  shall  bee  devided 
amongst  them  w'=''  have  the  [three]  oth*"  pt'  ontill  such  tyme  as 
they  have  Cattle  of  there  owne  or  [till]  they  sell  the  Grounds  to 
those  that  have  Catties. 

3"^  Lye.  That  the  three  oth''  pt'  shall  bee  equally  devided 
amongst  those  that  have  Cattle,  to  each  head  of  Cattle 

there  pportion  to  bee  devided  to  each  of  them  by  [lott]  w"** 
de visions  are  to  bee  made  betwixt  this  and  the  next  Co*^ 

[4]th  Lye.  That  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  Towne  of  Exeter 
shall  have  their  vpland  lotts  for  planting  laid  out  by  the  Riv'' 
bettweene  Stony  Creeke  and  the  Creeke  on  this  side  Mr.  Hiltons, 
according  to  the  num""  of  y'^  psons  and  Cattle,  in  equall  p  portion 
w'=''  p  portion  is  to  be  devided  to  them  by  lott,  except  such  psons 
as  live  one  the  oth'"  side  the  Riv%  and  Will.  Hilton  and  Goodm. 
Smart  who  are  to  have  the  lotts  one  the  oth""  side  the  Riv''  where 

435 


436  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

the  Tonne  shall  bee  thought  most  Convenient,  By  o"'  Rul"'  Needam 
and  Mr.  Starre  deputeis  to  this  purpose. 

5*  Lye.  That  whosoever  shall  Carry  themselves  disorderly 
vnreverently  in  the  Co**  Towards  the  Magistrates  or  in  y''  p'"sence 
shall  bee  lyable  to  such  a  Censer  as  the  CV  shall  thiuke  meete. 

A  Division  of  the  vplands  From  the  Cone  against  Eocky  poynt 
to  the  Creeke  next  on  this  Side  Mr.  Hiltons. 

1.  Imp"".  Mr.  Stanjou  27  acers  135  poole,  one  end  butting  vpon 
the  river  Eastward  &  the  other  end  running  vp  into  the  majne 
six  scoore  poole  in  Length. 

2.  Mr.  Grosse  28  acres  140  poole  butting  as  afforesayd. 

3.  Goodman  Walker  4  acers  20  poole  butting  as  aforesayd. 

4.  Goodman  Mower  22  acers  110  poole  butting  as  aforesayd. 

5.  Thomas  Louett  4  acers  20  poole  butting  as  aforesayd. 

6.  William  Wentford  4  acers  20  poole  butting  as  aforesayd. 

7.  Goodman  Coole  12  acers  60  poole  butting  as  aforesayd. 

8.  Edward  Rishworth  4  acers  20  poole  butting  as  aforesayd. 

9.  Robert  Smyth  6  acers  30  poole  butting  as  aforesayd. 

10.  Goodman  Littlefejld  4  acers  20  poole  butting  as  aforesayd. 

11.  Goodman  Winborne  7  acers  &  40  poole  butting  as  abouesaj'd. 

12.  Jeremiah  Blackwell  4  acers  20  poole  butting  as  aforesayd. 

13.  George  Raborne  4  acers  20  poole  butting  as  aforesayd. 

14.  Goodman  Dearborne  10  acers  50  poole  butting  as  aforesayd. 

15.  Mr.  Needum  12  acers  60  poole  butting  as  aforesayd. 

16.  Goodman  E^lkine  4  acers  20  poole  butting  as  aforesayd. 

17.  Goodman  Crame  8  acers  40  poole  butting  as  aforesayd. 

18.  Goodman  Littlefejld  21  acers  butting  as  aforesayd. 

19.  Thomas  AVeight  6  acers  30  poole  butting  as  aforesayd. 

20.  Jams  Wall  10  acers  90  poole  butting  as  aforesayd. 

21.  Mr.  Pormott  14  acers  70  poole  butting  as  aforesayd. 

22.  William  Wardell  10  acers  50  poole  buttmg  as  aforesayd. 

23.  Goodman  Compton  12  acers  60  poole  butting  as  aforesayd. 

24.  Thomas  Wardell  12  acers  60  poole  butting  as  aforesayd. 

25.  Goodman  Pettit  6  acers  30  poole  butting  as  aforesayd. 

26.  Goodman  Willix  4  acers  20  poole  butting  as  aforesayd. 

27.  Goodman  Bulgar  4  acers  20  poole  butting  as  aforesayd. 

28.  Mr.  Morris  33  acers  butting  as  aforesayd. 

29.  Mr.  Wheelewright  80  acers  butting  as  aforesayd. 

30.  Robert  Read  9  acers  &  50  poole  butting  as  aforesayd. 

31.  Abner 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  437 

32.  Mr.  Storr  20  acers  100^  poole  butting  as  aforesayd. 

33.  Griffine  Mountegue  10  acers  50  poole  butting  as  aforesayd, 
bouglit  by  Mr.  Edward  Hillton  of  Thomas  Croly. 

Thomas  X  Crolys  marke,  witnes  Richard  Bullgar. 
Noate  here  a  great  mistake,  in  this   Record  viz.  euery  akeer 
herein  mensioned  stands  but  for  halfe  an  alier  as  atests 

Rob.  Booth, 

Sept.  26,  1670. 

A  note  how  the  marshes  were  diuided  in  the  First  diussion  next 
the  Towue,  the  quantity  being  14  acers. 

1.  Imp""  to  Goodman  Smart  one  acre  &  26  poole  bee  it  more  or 
lesse. 

2.  To  Goodman  Coole  ^  acre  &  13  poole  bee  it  more  or  lesse. 

3.  To  o''  pastor  8  acers  i  quarters  bee  it  more  or  lesse. 

4.  To  Goodman  Mountegue  1  acre  26  poole  bee  it  more  or  lesse. 

5.  To  Mr.  Storr  2  acers  3  quarters  bee  it  more  or  lesse. 

Theire  is  also  diuided  14  acres  to  y^  Sayd  partys  at  Lamprome 
Riuer  &  the  Same  p  portion  to  each  party  as  aboue  Sayd. 

In  the  Second  Diuission  19  acers  on  this  sid  Mr.  Hiltons  is 
diuided  &  six  acers  on  Lamproue  Riuer,  as  Followeth, 

1.  Irap"^  to  James  Walls  one  acre  &  54  poole  bee  it  more  or  lesse 
&  halfe  an  acree  at  Lamprone  riuer. 

2.  To  Mr.  Morris  7  acres  bee  it  more  or  lesse  &  2  acres  40  poole 
at  L :  Riuer. 

3.  To  Goodm :  Willson  3  acres  28  poole  bee  itmor  or  lesse  &  1 
acre  a  Lamp  :  Riuer. 

4.  To  Mr.  Grosse  6  acers  &  50  poole  be  it  more  or  lesse  &  2  acres 
a  Lam :  Riuer. 

In  the  Third  Diuission  18  acres  on  this  side  Mr.  Hilton's  &  six 
acers  at  Lamprone  Riuer  diuided  &  giuen  as  before  as  followeth. 

1.  Imp'',  to  William  Hilton  2  acres  &  40  poole  be  it  more  or  lesse 
&  120  poole  at  Lamprone  Riuer. 

2.  To  William  Mower  2  acres  &  40  poole  bee  it  more  or  lesse  & 
120  pool  L  :  Riv  : 

3.  To  John  Compton  12  acrs  be  it  more  or  lesse  &  120  poole  at 
Lamp  :  riuer. 

4.  To  William  Wardell  120  poole  bee  it  more  or  less  &  120  poole 
at  Lamp  :  Riuer. 

5.  To  Mr.  Stanjon  8  acers  more  or  lesse  &  2  acers  &  halfe  at 
Lamp  :  riuer. 


438  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

6.  To  Mr.  Needura  3  acers  bee  it  more  or  lesse  &  1  acre  at  Lamp  : 
Eiuer. 

In  the  4'^  Diuission  19  acres  on  this  side  Mr.  Hiltons  &  14 
acers  at  Lamp :  Eiuer  diuided  &  given  to  them  that  haue  noe 
cattle,  &  to  euery  man  an  equall  p  portion  w'^''  comes  to  euery  one 
an  acer  &  an  halfe. 

Theire  is  a  small  parcell  about  2  acers  of  marsh  bee  it  more  or 
lesse  w*^*^  was  giuen  to  William  Winborne  that  lyeth  betwixt  Mr. 
Needums  march  &  theii'e  marsh  w""*"  had  noe  cattle  betwixt  this 
&  Mr.  Hilton's. 

1.  It  was  agreed  by  the  Inhabitants  in  the  yer  1639  upon  the 
18'^  day  of  the  11""  month  that  Isack  Grosse,  Rular,  Agustin 
Store  and  Anthony  Stanyon  shall  haue  y^  Ordring  of  all  towne 
affaiers  according  to  god. 

Orders  made  by  the  Co'^  held  at  Exeter  the  6  day  of  the  12  Mo. 
1639. 

That  noe  man  shall  sett  fier  vpon  the  wood  to  the  destroying  of 
the  feed  for  the  Cattle,  or  to  the  doing  of  any  oth""  hurt  vnd' 
paine  of  payeing  the  damage  that  shall  insue  thereby,  after  the 
midle  of  the  2  month. 

That  every  man  shall  fall  such  trees  as  are  in  his  lott  being 
offencive  to  any  oth"^.  And  if  aff  due  warninge  any  shall  refuse, 
to  pay  halfe  a  Crowne  for  every  tree  that  is  soe  offensive. 

That  every  action  that  is  tryed  the  pty  that  is  Cast  in  it  shall 
pay  to  the  Jury  foure  shillings. 

Orders  made  by  the  Co*^  held  at  Exeter  the  6  day  of  the  1  mo*** 
(1639-40.) 

That  noe  wines  or  Strong  watter  shal  be  Sould  by  retaile  to  the 
English  but  by  thomas  Wardle. 

It  is  ordered  that  Avhosoeuer  shall  dige  a  saw  pitt  &  shall  not 
fill  it  or  Cover  it,  shal  be  liable  to  pay  the  damage  that  shall  com 
to  man  or  beast  thereby. 

It  is  ordered  that  all  the  Swine  that  is  not  cared  doune  the  riuer 
by  the  4  day  of  the  2  month,  the  owners  shall  be  liable  to  pay  the 
damage  that  shall  befall  any  thereby. 

That  all  grounds,  woods  &  such  preuiliges  as  appertaine  to  the 
towne,  such  inhabitans  as  haue  their  lotts  small  or  great  in  the 
bounds  of  the  toune  shal  be  liable  to  pay  such  comon  Charges  as 
the  towne  shal  be  at,  according  to  theire  proportion  of  ground, 
Catles,  or  other  preuilidges  they  doe  injoye  in  y''  towne,  whither 
prisent  or  absent. 


,  HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  439 

It  is  furder  ordered  that  euerie  man  that  is  an  inhabitant  of  the 
Toune  shall  hane  free  libirtie  to  trade  with  the  Indians  in  any 
thuige  exsepte  it  be  powder,  shot,  or  any  warelike  weapons,  or 
Sacke  or  other  Stronge  watters,  according  to  the  former  order  ; 
and  as  for  prizes  of  what  Corne  there  shal  be  traided  with  them 
shall  not  exceed  foure  Shillings  the  bushell. 

6.  It  is  here  recorded  that  Anthonie  Stanyon  hath  satisfied 
the  Cort  Conserneing  the  offence  giuen  by  hime  to  ou^  Ruler 
Nedham. 

It  is  iuacted  for  a  law  constituted  &  made  &  consented  vnto  by 
the  whole  assemblye  at  the  Cort  Sollomly  meet  togeather  in  Exeter 
this  9  day  of  the  2  moneth  Ano.  1640. 

That  if  any  person  or  persons  shall  plot  or  practise  eyther  by 
Combination  or  otherwise  the  betrayeing  of  his  Contrie  or  any 
priusipall  part  thereof  into  the  hands  of  anye  forrainge  state, 
Spanish  Duch  or  french,  Contrarye  to  the  Allegiance  we  p  fesse 
&  owe  to  on""  Dread  Souveraigne  lord  kiuge  Charles  his  heires  & 
successors,  it  being  his  majesties  pleasuer  to  ptect  vs  his  loyall 
Subjicts,  Shal  be  punished  with  death,  if  anye  person  or  persons 
shall  plot  or  practise  Trecherge,  treson  or  rebellion,  or  shall  reuile 
his  majestie  the  lords  anoynted  Contrarye  to  the  Allegiance  we 
professe  and  owe  to  our  dread  Souveraine  lord  kinge  Charles  his 
heires  &  successors  (ut  supra)  shal  be  punished  with  death. 

Numb.  16 

Exo.  22.  28 

1  Kings,  2,  8,  9,  44. 

An  Order  about  purchesing  howse  lots. 

3.  It  was  Ordered  by  the  Inhabetants  in  the  jT^ere  1640  in  the 
11"'  day  of  the  2'^  month  that  none  Inhabetant  nor  farinar  shall 
purchese  aney  howse  lots  of  aney  but  thay  shall  bulde  an  habeta- 
tion  or  dweling  house  vpon  it  with  in  the  space  of  six  months  next 
folowing  aney  such  purchese,  &  whosoeuer  shall  kepe  lots  in  thar 
hand  aboue  six  months  vubult  one  or  haue  seurall  howse  lots  in 
there  hands  shall  pay  such  charges  vpon  eurey  loot  as  shall  a 
Rise  in  the  towne  Rates  and  whosoeuer  shall  sell  house  or  howse 
lots  before  they  haue  tendred  the  saile  tharof  to  the  townsmen, 
that  ded  of  saile  is  voyd,  if  the  town  shall  giue  as  good  a  prise  as 
he  that  formerly  bought  it. 

4.  It  was  Agreed  vpon  and  ordred  by  the  Inhabetants  of 
Exetar  in  the  yer  1640,  in  the  first  day  of  the  8'*^  month  that  none 


440  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

shall  fell  aney  timbar  within  halfe  a  mile  of  the  towne,  except  it 
be  vpon  thar  partic-ular  lots  without  it  be  for  bulclinge  or  fencing 
vpon  the  peunaltie  of  S''  for  evtrey  tree  so  fellcl. 

5.  It  was  Agreed  vpon  and  Ordred  the  day  &  yei'e  next  aboue 
writen  that  none  but  such  as  are  Inhabetants  and  town  dwelars 
shall  haue  libertie  to  fell  or  sawe  aney  timber  thar  Oake  or  pine 
or  aney  otliar,  but  they  shall  be  liable  to  an  equal  fine  a  Cording 
to  the  proporshon  so  feled  or  sawn. 

It  is  ordered  and  Agreed  vppon  by  the  iuhabitanc  of  the  Towne 
of  Exeter  that  noone  shall  fell  Aney  Oke  timber  w"'  in  halfe  A 
mile  of  Aney  part  of  the  Towne,  Except  it  be  vppon  there  pticular 
lott  or  for  building  or  fenceing,  vppon  the  penialltie  of  [each 
tree]  five  shillings. 

Its  ordered  by  the  Inhabitance  of  the  Towne  at  A  [meeting] 
whoseuer  shall  Absent  themselves  from  Towne  [meeting]  after] 
due  warning  shall  for  [each]  offence  forfeit 

Orders  mayd  by  the  Cort  at  Exeter  houldeu  the  secund  day 
moth  9"S  1640. 

Imp""  y*  Edward  Eishwoorth  is  chosen  by  order  of  Cort  to  be 
Secritery  to  the  Cort  to  looke  to  the  booke  &  to  enter  all  such 
actions  are  brought,  and  to  have  12'^  layd  downe  at  the  entring 
euery  action. 

2  ly.  Its  likewise  agreed  vpon  y*  the  lands  y'  are  layd  outt 
according  to  the  former  order,  both  for  theire  butting,  bounding 
&  p  portion,  are  now  confirmed  &  ratifyd  in  the  cort  Eowles. 

3  ly.  It  is  a  lawe  mayd  y*  if  either  pson  or  psons  shall  by  any 
means  draw  sids,  to  make  comuotions  or  seditions  in  these  o'' 
Jurisdictions,  hee  shall  pay  tenn  pounds  &  stand  liable  to  the 
further  Censure  of  the  Court. 

4  ly.  Its  agreed  vpon  that  the  Milner  shall  take  for  his  wast 
&  towle  5"^  of  meale,  &  w'  euer  is  wanting  more  is  to  be  mayd 
good  by  him,  &  hee  to  stand  lyable  to  the  Corts  censure  vpon  Just 
&  sufficient  testimony  of  the  same. 

5  ly.  Its  agreed  that  all  pitts  &  hooles  are  to  bee  filled  up  & 
trees  remoued,  w'^  ly  neare  the  way,  Avithin  a  fortintts  tyme  or 
else  they  are  to  pay  10'  &  bee  lyable  to  the  Censure  of  the  Court. 

61y.  That  all  Creeks  are  free,  only  hee  y'  maks  a  ware  therein 
is  to  haue  in  the  first  place  the  beuefitt  of  it  in  Fishing  tyme  &  soe 
others  may  sett  a  ware  either  aboue  or  below  &  enjoy  the  same 
liberty. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  441 

It  is  agreed  upon  by  the  Inhabitauts  of  Exeter  that  enery  man 
shall  Fence  the  next  spring  a  generall  fence  euery  man  an  eqnall 
p  portion  according  to  the  quality  of  ground  lyng  within  the  fence 
by  the  middle  of  the  secund  moentli  w'^''  will  bee  1641,  and  w*  damage 
can  bee  mayd  [to]  appear  for  the  want  of  a  suflicient  Fence  hee 
y'  ows  it  is  to  make  it  good,  &  if  the  sayd  Fence  bee  not  sett  vp 
at  the  day  appoynted  euery  day  after  hee  y*  is  behind  hand  herein 
shall  pay  Five  Shillings  a  day. 

Orders  mayd  &  agreed  vpon  at  Exeter,  houldeu  this  3'^  day, 
moenth  12^^  1640. 

Its  agreed  vpon  y*  Mr.  William  Hilton  is  to  enjoy  those  two 
marshes  in  Oyster  River  w'^'^  formerly  he  hath  had  possession  of 
&  still  are  in  his  possession  &  the  other  marsh  w'^''  Mr.  Gibbies 
doth  wrongfully  detayne  from  him  with  the  rest  of  those  marshes 
w*^*^  formerly  hee  hath  mayd  use  of  soe  fare  forth  as  they  may  bee 
for  the  publique  good  of  this  plantation.  And  soe  much  of  the 
vpland  (adjoining)  to  them  as  shall  bee  thought  couueiyent  by 
the  neighbores  of  Oyster  Riuer,  w'='^  are  belonging  to  this  body. 

It  is  further  agreed  vpon  y*  vpon  o""  former  agrement  euery  one 
shall  fence  his  p  portion  of  ground  &  if  any  refuse,  whoseuer  will 
fence  it  shall  haue  the  use  of  it  till  they  bee  fully  satisfyd,  if  it 
bee  ould  ground,  &  if  it  bee  new  hee  shall  have  it  for  his  payens. 

where  As  it  was  formerly  agreed  vpon  in  generall  y*^  all  the 
Toune  should  generally  fence  &  w°  they  come  to  fence  prticularly 
others  should  doe  as  much  for  them  in  fencing  as  they  did  for  y"" 
outsids  w*^''  vpon  farther  consideration  is  not  thought  equall  yrfore 
now  it  is  agreed  y'  w"  wee  come  to  fence  in  particular  y*  it  must 
bee  putt  to  the  consideration  of  two  indifereit  men  w*  y''  fence  is 
worth  by  those  w'=''  fenced  the  out  side,  is  to  bee  mayd  good  unto 
them  again  by  such  as  [the  land]  appertains  two. 

Its  likewise  agreed  that  whosoeuer  buyes  the  Indean  ground  by 
way  of  purchase  is  to  tender  it  first  to  the  towne  before  they  are 
to  make  p  per  vse  of  it  in  prticular  to  themselves. 

Orders  mayd  by  the  Court  at  Exeter,  moenth  First,  day  the  12''' 
1640  [1641.] 

Imp"",  whereas  the  highwayes  by  vertue  of  a  forme'  order  were 
to  bee  in  breadth  3  pole  at  the  least,  yet  notwithstanding  they  are 
straytued  in  diuerse  places,  wee  doe  therefore  here  agaiue  order 
that  they  should  bee  rectifyd  &  mayd  the  full  breadth  as  afore- 
sayd  betwixt  this  &  the  middle  of  the  secund  moenth  w<=''  shall  be 


442  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

iu  the  yeare  of  o""  Lord  1642,  &  alsoe  such  ground  as  is  taken  in 
coutary  to  order,  to  bee  rectifyd  within  the  sayd  tjnne. 

Orders  mayd  by  the  Court  at  Exeter  d  :  30  :  m  :  First,  1641. 

Its  agreed  vpon  y*  all  the  Swine  aboue  ^  a  yeare  ould  and 
vpwards  are  to  bee  sent  downe  into  the  great  bay  by  the  10"'  day 
of  secund  moenth,  &  w*  Swine  are  found  in  the  towne  after  y* 
tyme  aboue  y*^  age,  vf^  hurt  they  doe  iu  a  sufficient  Fence,  there 
owners  are  to  make  it  good. 

Its  further  agreed  y'  according  to  former ,  orders  y'  all  are  to 
have  y""  fences  finished  of  y''  home  lotts  by  the  middle  of  y"  next 
moenth,  or  otherwise  to  stand  to  y*"  perill  y'  may  ensue. 

Its  agreed  that  none  but  inhabitants  of  the  towne  shall  plant 
w  hin  the  townes  libertys  w  hout  there  consent. 

Whereas  the  freemen  of  Exeter  haue  mayd  choyce  of  Mr. 
RichUrd  Bui  gar  to  be  Leefetenant  of  y*^  band  of  Souldgers  in  Exe- 
ter, &  prsented  to  y®  court  houlden  at  Exeter  cl :  30  :  m  :  First  1641, 
I  the  ruler  of  the  sayd  plantation  doe  ratify  &  confirme  y''  sayd 
choj^se  &  doe  further  grant  y'  the  sayd  Mr.  Richard  Bulgar  shall 
bee  enstauled  &  confirmed   Leeftenant   by  the    freemen  y''    next 

trayning  day. 

Nicholas  Needham. 

Whereas  the  freemen  of  Exeter  haue  mayd  choyse  of  Thomas 
Wardell  to  bee  Sargiant  of  the  band  of  Souldgers  in  Exeter,  & 
pr  sented  to  y*"  Court  houlden  at  Exeter  d  :  30  :  moenth  First 
1641,  I  the  Ruler  of  the  sayd  plantation  do  confirme  the  sayd 
choyse  &  d(oe  further)  grant  yHhe  sayd  Thomas  Wardell  shall 
be  enstaled  by  the 

the  next  trayning  day. 

Nicholas  Needum. 

An  order  mayd  by  the  (Court  at)  Exeter,  d :   10"\  m  :  4*  1641. 

Its  ordered  y'  Goodman  shall  allow  the  Indeans  one 

bushell  of  corne  for  y^  labor  &  w'^*'  was  spent  by  y"  in  re- 

playnting  of  y'  corne  of  y"  w*^''  was  spoyld  by  his  corne  (swine?) 
&  hee  to  make  vp  y''  lose  at  haruest,  according  as  y*  corne  may 
bee  judged  worse  then  there  corne  w'='*  was  nev''  hurt. 

An  order  mayd  at  the  Court  at  Exeter  the  last  day  of  June 
1641,  it  is  agreed  vpon  that  thar  shall  be  none  accusations  deulged 
or  spread  abroud  of  aney  parsone  or  parsons  but  what  thare  be 
proued  by  the  mouth  of  to  or  three  witnescs  for  they  that  shall  so 
doe  shall  be  liable  to  the  Court  Sensur,  this  is  not  in  poynt  of 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  443 

damidegs       trespas  but  in  point  of  slanders  in  a  mans  good  name. 

It  was  Agreed  vpon  and  ordred  by  the  Inhabetants  of  Exetar 
in  the  yere  1641  (-42)  in  the  14*'^  day  of  the  11"'  month,  that  no 
fareuars  shall  worke  within  the  limmets  of  our  towne,  to  be  paid 
out  of  timbar  or  pipstaues  for  thar  worke,  nor  to  hindar  any  any 
of  the  Inhabtants  from  Imployment  prouided  that  the  Inhabetants 
Can  or  will  doe  that  worke  as  Cheap  and  sufishent  as  the  farinar, 
but  if  thay  will  not,  then  are  the  Inhabetants  free  to  bringe  in 
Farenars. 

Vpon  the  great  complaint  of  the  great  distruction  &  spoyle  of 
timbar  about  the  towne  of  Exetar  it  was  Agreed  and  ordred  by 
the  Inhabetants  in  y'  14"^  day  of  the  ll*''  mouth  that  all  such  of 
y"  Inhabetants  that  haue  felled  aney  timbar  for  pipstaues  or  boults 
before  this  Ordar  wos  made,  shall  haue  one  yers  time  to  worke  it 
vp,  Except  it  be  such  as  had  timbar  lieiug  vnwr ought  vp  a  yere, 
and  such  are  alowed  but  6  months  to  worke  vp  such  timbar,  and 
if  aney  timbar  belonging  to  these  men  shall  be  found  vpon  the 
Common  vnwrought  vp  aftar  the  6  months  then  it  shall  be  forfit 
and  at  the  townsmens  disposing  and  the  Common  to  be  Clered  of 
all  timbar  which  was  felled  for  pipstaues  or  boults  euery  6  months, 
except  they  be  in  pipstaues  or  boults,  vpon  the  pennaltie  of  the 
forfetur  tharof . 

Cort  at  Exeter,  mth.  5,  d  :  10">  1642. 

The  Censure  of  the  Court  against  Thomas  Weight  for  [con- 
temptuous carriages]  &  speeches  against  both  y"  Court  &  the 
magestrate  w*"^^  hee  is  to  bee  fined  20'  &  to  pay  all  Court  charges 
besids,  &  his  liberty  to  bee  taken  away  as  hee  is  a  freeman. 

Its  agreed  y'  all  mane^  of  cattle  are  to  haue  keepers  a  days  & 
are  to  bee  looke  to  of  nights  &  kept  vp,  if  any  damage  come  by 
any  answerable  satisfaction  mst  be  mayd. 

Att  the  Court  houldne  att  Exeter  the  20*  of  the  8"^  moneth 
1642. 

Mr.  Needham  resines  vp  his  offlse  of  being  Ruler,  and  by  the 
choyce  and  Approbation  of  the  boddey  of  the  Towne,  mr.  Thomas 
Wilson  is  Established  Ruler. 

John  Legat  is  Chousene  by  the  Court  to  be  secritere  to  the 
Court  to  keepe  the  booke,  and  to  enter  all  such  Actiones  as  are 
brought  and  to  haue  12^  layede  downe  att  the  enterey  of  euerey 
Action. 


444  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Att  the  Courte  liouldeue  att  Exeter  the  7*  Day  of  the  9*''  mo. 
1642. 

Our  honored  Ruler  mr.  Thomas  Willson  doth  give  his  Approba- 
tion and  confermes  All  thouse  howlesome  lawes  and  orders  w'='^ 
are  here  Recorded  w'^'^  ware  made  in  the  time  that  mr.  Needam 
was  Ruler. 

It  is  ordred  by  the  Court  houldne  att  Exeter  the  Q^^  day  of  the 
third  m°  1643,  That  m"^  Thomas  Rashley  shall  haue  giuene  vnto 
him  for  A  house  lott  that  peece  of  land  w'=''  lyeth  betweene 
Grifiug  Mountegue  his  lott  and  M""  Stanyon  his  Creeke,  Conteyneing 
14  or  16  Akers  be  more  or  lese,  only  excepteing  2  Akers  and  A 
halfe  for  A  loot  for  Grifing  Mountegue  next  to  the  creeke. 

It  is  farther  ordred  by  the  Court  Above  named  that  Thomas 
Wardall,  William  Winborne,  Samuell  Walker  and  Robert  Reade 
shall  haue  libertey  and  Athoretey  to  searche  [in]  the  howse  or 
howses  of  Aney  p  son  or  p  sones  wi  [thin  our]  Jurisdictiones, 
And  to  take  into  theire  Custodey  [and  make]  sale  of  Aney  such. 
Corne  as  they  shall  find  in  ther  [houses]  which  is  more  then  the 
ptie  or  pties  shall  have  ne  [ed]  of  for  theire  one  Families  till  har- 
uist  next,  prouided  th  [at]  the  pties  Above  named  make  good  pay 
for  the  sd  Co  [rue]  and  as  good  A  pryce  as  it  is  ginerally  sould 
for  in  [the  Riuore,  and  theis  pties  to  dispoose  of  such  Corne  so 
[taken]  by  them  vnto  such  poore  people  as  stands  most  in  n  [eed.] 
of  it  for  the  best  pay  they  Can  Make,  and  att  the  f  [irst]  price 
w'^''  the  pties  Aboue  named  bj^e  it  att. 

It  is  Ordred  by  voate  at  a  towne  meetinge  houlden  at  Exetar 
ye  2itii  of  Agust  1643  that  aney  Inhabetant  of  the  towne  of  Exetar 
which  shall  finde  vndar  20  Ackars  of  marsh  shall  Injoye  the  same 
as  his  owne  foreuer  by  vertew  of  this  ordar  but  if  he  or  thay  shall 
finde  above  20  Ackars  then  it  is  at  y"  towns  disposall,  prouided 
that  he  or  thay  which  finde  y^  march  of  aboue  20  Ackars  shall 
haue  a  duble  portion  out  of  it. 

At  the  Court  houldne  the  5^^  of  the  7^^^  mo.  (43.) 

Christey  Lawson  binds  himselfe  in  the  som  of  Ten  pounds  starl- 
ing vnto  the  countrey  to  Answere  A  presentment  brought  Against 
him  for  extortion  by  William  Coale,  Tho.  Weight,  James  Wall, 
William  Wentworth,  and  Tho.  Petet,  and  this  to  be  Answerd  by 
him  att  the  next  Court  w'=^'  shall  be  houlden  for  Exeter,  either 
heere  or  else  wliare. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  445 

William  Coale,  Thomas  Weight,  James  Wall  Will"^  Went"" 
and  Tho.  Petet  do  bind  themselues  in  the  som  of  50'  the  peece  to 
be  payd  to  the  Countrey,  In  Case  they  do  not  follow  the  p'sent- 
ment  brought  Against  Chi'istey  Lawson  by  them  for  extortion,  the 
next  Court  houldne  for  Exeter  heere  or  elsewhare. 

Corne  spoyled  by  swine,  it  is  ordred  that  James  Wall  shall  haue 
Alowd  him  3  bushells  of  Corne,  George  Rabone  3  bushells,  Tho. 
Weight  1  bushell  and  halfe,  George  barlow  1  bushell  to  be  payde 
by  John  Bursley  for  leaveing  opne  A  cart  gapp  or  by  whome  he 
Can  prove  hath  left  it  opne,  or  hath  bine  the  Cause  of  the  leaueing 
it  opne. 

It  is  ordred  that  William  Coale,  Tho.  weit  and  Tho.  Wardall 
shall  pay  vnto  Sam"  Walker,  Hen.  Robay  and  Tho.  Petet  either 
of  them  A  peck  of  Corne  for  harme  dune  vnto  them  by  swine. 

It  is  ordred  that  Tho.  Biggs  shall  pay  vnto  Grifing  Mountegu 
for  taking  Away  his  oure  2^  6*^  and  charges  or  a  new  owre  and  the 
Court  charges. 

It  is  farther  ordred  att  the  Court  houlden  the  5"'  of  the  7'^^  mo. 
1643,  that  Tho.  Biggs  shall  pay  vnto  the  Sagamoure  for  takeing 
Away  his  Net  and  parting  of  it  5". 

It  is  farther  ordred  that  Tho.  Bigs  shall  be  whipt  6  strips  for 
takeing  Away  a  sith  of  Captanie  Wigons  and  other  petey  lasones. 

It  is  ordred  that  Christoy  Lawson  shall  speedely  puide  A  fyle 
for  Will'"  Wentwoth,  and  AVill'"  Wentwoth  to  pay  7'  for  it. 

It  is  ordred  that  Will.  Coale  and  Rob.  Smith  shall  ouersee  the 
fences  About  the  Towne  and  giue  warning  to  them  whose  fences 
Are  defectiue,  and  If  they  be  not  Amended  the  owners  there  of 
to  pay  for  what  hurt  is  done  through  those  fences. 

'    3M9  day  (44.) 

Its  agreed  that  the  tounsmeu  shall  pocure  a  bridg  ouar  laraprill 
Riuar. 

Its  left  to  the  3  townsmen  to  purches  mr.  Whelwrights  howse 
with  all  lands  belonging  thervnto  for  the  towne. 

It  is  agred  that  all  dogs  shall  be  Clogd  and  [sid  liud]  in  y'^ 
day  and  tid  vp  in  the  night,  and  if  aney  dogs  shall  be  found  tres- 
pasing  in  the  lots  they  that  shall  find  them  may  showt  them  or 
folow  them  to  the  howse  to  which  that  dog  doth  belong  and  Charg 
5'  vpou  the  ouar  of  that  dog  or  bitch  which  shall  be  leued  by  ordar 
from  the  townsmen  &  halfe  the  fine  to  f aul  to  towne  and  halfe  to 
the  partie  that  takes  that  dog,  and  the  trespas  to  be  judged  by  tow 
men  and  the  trespas  to  be  paid  for. 


446  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Sarauell  Grenfel  Chosen  to  kepe  the  a  sufisheut  ordenarey  and 
draw  wine  and  strong  waters  and  trad  with  the  Indans,  and 
Sargant  Wardall  hath  libartie  to  draw  of  his  wine  that  is  in  his 
hands  or  Samuel  grenfeld  to  take  his  wine  of  his  hands. 

when  we  Coul  a  generall  meting,  men  to  haue  3  days  warning. 

[It]  s  agred  that  the  trained  bands  minds  should  be  knowne  and 
if  thay  would  hands  to  be  pocured  to  the  Genrall  Court  for 

the  Restablishing  leftenant  Richard  Bullgar  in  his  formar  ofis  and 
Sargant  Wardall  pocure  the  like  libartie  and  both  to  be  sent  to 
the  Court. 

the  17  day  of  y''  4""  mouth  44. 

its  agred  that  at  a  towne  meting  in  Exetar  that  the  marsh  that 
wos  promist  to  Anthoney  Statiyon  by  seuen  of  the  Brethren  as  far 
as  in  them  lay  shall  be  giuen  to  mr.  Whelwright  his  aiers  and 
sucksesors  for  euer,  allso  that  Anthoney  Stauyon  is  to  haue  as 
much  in  anothar  deriction  as  will  ansor  to  the  shars  of  6  brethren 
and  himselfe  as  Couuenient,  if  not  in  qualitie  then  it  is  to  be  in 
quantitie,  this  grant  to  Mr.  Whelwright  is  with  these  Condishons 
that  he  doth  Com  amongst  us  againe,  if  not  it  is  to  be  still  in  the 
towns  hands,  and  Anthoney  Stanyon  is  to  be  satisfied  by  y**  toune 
for  his  charges  that  he  is  out. 

It  is  ordered  at  this  Toune  meeting  that  every  man  shall  kepe 
vp  his  cattell  every  night  in  some  yard  or  Pen  vpon  the  penalty  of 
12*^  a  peece  every  night,  excepting  working  cattell,  &  if  any  mans 
cattell  trespass  they  are  to  pay  the  damages  besides  the  fine,  the 
17  of  ye  4'^  M.  1644. 

17  day  4  mo.  44. 

Its  ordred  that  thar  shall  be  a  Hey  way  downe  to  the  marches 
without  side  of  grifeu  mountegs  lot,  Right  downe  to  the  Riuor. 

It  is  agred  that  that  fence  which  Runs  by  the  liroke  Avhich  Runs 
betwen  Humf rey  Willsens  house  and  Mr.  Whelwrights  shall  be  set 
vpon  to  be  set  vp  within  2  dayes  aftar  the  date  of  this  ordar,  and 
if  it  shall  be  neglected  then  thay  whos  fensing  shall  be  downe 
aftar  this  weke  shall  pay  1 0''  the  Rood  for  eurey  weke  tell  it  shall 
be  set  vp. 

It  is  agred  that  4  dayes  shall  be  set  apart  to  mend  the  heywayes 
to  begine  one  the  4"'  da}-  of  the  weke  Com  a  seuen  night  and  to  be 
at  thar  labors  from  6  and  leue  at  12  and  Rest  tell  2  and  worke  tell 
6  a  clock,  and  such  as  shall  be  absent  from  the  worke  at  the  ours 
aboue  writen  shall  be  fined  o**  for  euery  day,  and  thay  that  haue 
terns  shall  worke  them  vpon  the  penalltie  of  20"  for  euery  day 
neglect  vntill  the  4  days  shall  be  expired. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  447 

Oi'dred  voted  and  granted  at  a  town  metiuge  by  a  goynt  Consent 
that  Christepher  lason  hath  a  grant  to  set  a  weare  in  the  Riuar  of 
Exetar  y''  28*  of  the  4*  mo.  1644,  to  him  and  his  Aiers  foreuer 
vpon  the  Condishous  as  foloweth,  first  that  y*^  Inhabetants  of  y^ 
towne  of  Exetar  shall  be  supplyed  with  Alewifes  to  fish  thar 
ground  euery  yere  before  aney  othars  at  3'  par  thousand,  and  whot 
Alewifes  are  taken  shall  be  equally  deuided  according  as  y'=  Inhab- 
etants shall  agre,  and  if  thar  be  no  fish  taken  then  Christepher  to 
be  fre  from  aney  damiedges  to  y'^  towne,  and  whot  fish  the  Inhabe- 
tants shall  buy  of  ye  said  Christepor  he  y^  said  Chrisephor  doth 
binde  himself e  to  take  such  pay  for  it  as  y''  towne  afords,  to  be 
paid  once  in  six  months,  and  In  case  the  said  Christepor  or  his 
sucksesors  shall  heraftar  tendar  y^  saile  of  y"  weare  that  then  he 
shall  in  y*  first  place  tendar  it  to  y"  towne  for  Countrey  pay,  and 
we  y"  Inhabetants  do  Retaine  our  liberties  to  fish  in  y^  fawls  or 
elce  whar  in  y''  Riuar,  but  not  to  set  vp  aney  othar  ware  so  as  to 
forstall  that  ware  which  Christopher  is  to  set  vp,  and  y®  said 
Christepher  is  to  make  flud  gats  so  that  barkes  botes  and  Canows 
may  Com  to  the  towne,  in  witnes  her  vnto  we  do  set  to  our  hands 
for  vs  and  our  sucksesars  Intarchangably  for  euer  y®  day  and  yere 
aboue  writen. 

In  y*^  behalf e  of  y*^  towne 

Richard  Bullgar 

Samuel  -\-  Grenfelds     marke. 

Christopher  lawson. 

It  is  ordered  that  none  but  seteled  iuhabitantes  shall  make  use 
of  woode  or  common,  nor  that  noe  inhabytant  shall  inploy  anny 
Aboute  wod  worke,  but  of  the  setteled  inhabitants. 


APPENDIX  III. 

BICENTENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  HON.  JEREMIAH  SMITH. 

A  FEW  PASSAGES,  FOR  THE  MOST  PART  BIOGRAPHICAL.  ARE  OMITTED 
AS  THE  INFORMATION  THEY  CONTAIN  IS  GIVEN  IN  THE  EARLY  PART 
OP  THIS  VOLUME. 

"We  need  not  be  told,  that  our  ancestors  were  not  so  rich  ;  that 
they  were  hiborious,  industrious  and  economical ;  that  they 
belonged  to  the  middle  class  of  society  in  their  native  countr}', 
embracing,  however,  none  of  the  lowest  of  that  class,  who  had 
neither  the  wish  nor  the  ability  to  emigrate. 

It  will  be  my  endeavor  to  vindicate  the  religious  character  of 
the  first  settlers,  and  that  of  their  leader,  in  an  especial  manner, 
under  the  cruel  persecution  he  underwent.     Persecutors  are  much 
in  the  habit  of  giving  false  characters  of  the  men  they  persecute, 
as  if  that  would  palliate,  which  only  aggravates  the  injury.     The 
civil  fathers  of  Massachusetts,  and  the  reverend  elders,  must  have 
had  hard  hearts,  if,  when  they  beheld  the  little  band, — thirty  or 
forty  families, — collecting  their   wives  and  children,  their  cattle, 
their   furniture    and   their   scanty  stores,  for   the   wilderness   of 
Swamscot,  they  felt  no  pity  for  the  sufferers.     Albeit  these  men 
were  not  of  the  melting  mood,  they  must  have  shed  tears  at  the 
piteous  sight.     It  was  but  a  journey  of  three  or  four  days,  but  in 
prospect  it  was  dreary  enough.     There  was  a  small  settlement  at 
Lynn,  older  ones  at  Salem  and  Ipswich,  and  a   plantation  just 
begun  at  Newbury  ;  but  all  between  was  a  thick,  dark  forest,  and 
the  path  little  better  than  marked  trees.     We  are  told  that  about 
this  time  a  person  lost  his  way  in  the  icoods,  between  Salem  and 
Lynn,  and  wandered  about  several  days  before  he  reached  a  settle- 
ment.    Two   years   before,   the  famous   Hooker,  with   his   little 
colony  of  one  hundred  souls,  who  settled  Hartford,  were  a  whole 
week  performing  their  journey,  encumbered  as  our  little   colony 
was.     I  need  not  say,  that,  after  three  or  four  days'  journey  ours 

448 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  449 

reached  Swamseot  Falls  greatly  fatigued.  Here  they  found  no 
friends  to  bid  them  welcome.  This  was  the  most  painful  circum- 
stance of  all. 

Several  weeks  must  have  been  spent  in  preparing  log  huts  to 
shelter  them  from  the  weather.  But  the  toils  of  our  emigrants 
were  but  just  beginning.  Their  views  were  merely  agricultural, 
to  till  the  ground  for  a  subsistence  ;  and  we  must  remember  it  was 
the  hard  and  plain  tillage  of  a  common,  not  of  an  exuberant  soil. 
The  settlements  at  Portsmouth  and  Dover  were  made  by  traders, 
factors  and  fishermen,  who  hoped  to  carry  on  a  profitable  traffic 
with  the  natives  and  foreigners,  and  to  enrich  themselves  from  the 
sea,  not  the  land.  Mason  and  Gorges  aimed  at  still  greater 
things.  Their  connections  at  Court,  and  their  influence  with  the 
Great  Council  of  Plymouth,  obtained  grants  of  large  tracts  ;  to 
Gorges,  Maine,  and  to  Mason,  New  Hampshire.  These  lands  they 
intended  to  parcel  out  to  others  at  a  small  quit-rent.  They  were 
to  be  cultivated  by  tenants,  while  the  proprietors  were  to  be 
clothed  with  the  jura  regalia;  with  all  the  trappings  of  little 
mouarchs.  Experience  soon  taught  them  the  fallibility  and  the 
futility  of  all  such  schemes.  They  expended  large  sums  in  putting 
the  machine  in  motion,  and  died  in  debt.  Neither  they  nor  their 
posterity  ever  realized  a  tenth  part  of  the  sums  they  expended. 
Our  lands  are  not  rich  enough  to  support  landlord  and  tenant. 
The  cultivator  must  have  all  the  produce,  and  little  enough,  too. 
The  views  of  some  projectors  were  still  more  romantic.  They 
flattered  themselves  Avith  immense  wealth  from  the  discovery  here 
of  rich  mines  of  the  precious  metals  ;  such  as  the  adventurers  in 
our  southern  hemisphere  had  in  fact  realized. 

The  little  band  we  have  conducted  to  this  place,  in  point  of 
condition,  intelligence  and  education,  will  compare  well  with  the 
first  settlers  of  Massachusetts,  if  we  except  a  very  few  of  superior 
family,  wealth  and  education,  who  took  the  lead  in  that  enterprise. 
Perhaps  there  never  was  a  greater  equality  in  the  rank,  condition, 
education  and  circumstances  of  the  planters  of  a  new  colony  ; 
none  rich,  and  none  without  the  means  of  obtaining  the  necessaries 
of  life  ;  none  highly  educated,  and  none  without  the  education 
common  to  the  same  rank  in  the  mother  country  at  the  time. 

Among  our  settlers  there  were  no  merchants,  or  manufacturers,- 
or  persons  skilled  in  the  arts  of  trade.     They  were  from  the  agri- 
cultural districts  of  England  ;  of  course  not  ignorant  of  the  art  of 
husbandry,  as    then    practised   in    that   country;  but  they  could 

29 


450  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

hardly  be  aware  how  little  their  knowledge  would  avail  them  here. 
The  soil  was  different  from  that  of  Lincolnshire  and  Norfolk  ; 
and  there  the  tillage  was  of  lands  long  cultivated  ;  here  a  wilder- 
ness was  to  be  subdued  and  turned  into  a  fruitful  field,  a  new 
science  to  them.  No  doubt  their  scanty  portion  of  implements  of 
agriculture  was  ill  adapted  to  their  wants  ;  and  a  supply  was  not 
at  that  day,  as  now,  a  matter  of  easy  acquisition.  They  must 
have  suffered,  too,  for  want  of  animals.  Cattle  of  all  kinds  were 
scarce  and  dear.  The  new  plantations  in  Massachusetts  could 
spare  none,  at  any  price. 

It  seems  Captain  Mason  had  sent  over,  a  few  years  before,  a 
large  number  of  cattle  of  the  best  breeds,  imported  from  Denmark. 
He  died  about  two  years  before,  and  his  servants  had  possessed 
themselves  of  his  effects.  Probably  from  these  men  our  settlers 
were  able  to  obtain  a  partial  supply.  But,  after  all,  the  prospect 
was  gloomy  ;  gloomy  as  the  dark  forests  in  the  midst  of  which 
they  had  seated  themselves.  What  now,  think  ye,  supported  the 
drooping  spirits  of  our  emigrants  ?  If  ever  there  was  a  people 
thrown  entirely  upon  their  own  resources,  few  and  scanty  as  those 
resources  were,  we  have  them  here.  They  were  beyond  the 
bounds  of  Massachusetts  ;  strangers  to  the  people  of  Dover  and 
Portsmouth ;  every  way  strangers.  There  was  no  congeniality 
between  them.  Massachusetts  had  driven  them  out.  To  whom 
shall  they  go?  Happily,  they  belonged  to  that  class  of  men  who 
find  no  difficulty  in  answering  the  question.  They  had  just  been 
condemned  as  enemies  of  God  and  his  religion  ;  but  this  unjust 
sentence  of  their  fellow  mortals  could  not  deprive  them  of  what 
they  valued  above  all  earthly  good  —  their  religious  principles  and 
belief  ;  and  to  these  they  looked  for  support. 

The  bulk  of  mankind,  j^ou  know,  adopt  the  religious  opinions 
in  which  they  were  born  and  educated,  without  examination  and 
without  inquiry  ;  and  what  is  so  adopted  makes  but  a  feeble  im- 
j)ression  on  the  mind.  But  it  was  not  so  with  the  Puritans  who 
settled  New  England,  any  more  than  with  the  first  converts  to 
Christianity ;  they  heard  gladly,  but  did  not  yield  implicit  faith. 
"Are  these  things  so?"  They  inquired,  reasoned  and  compared, 
and  were  reasoned  with  ;  their  convictions,  therefore,  were  strong. 
They  could  not  fail  to  produce  fruits.  They  had  the  faith  that 
overcomes  the  world  and  all  wordly  things. 

The  Author  of  nature  has  implanted  in  the  heart  of  man  a 
strong  attachment  to  the  land  of  his  birth  ;  to  parents,  children, 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  451 

kindred  ;  to  the  scenes  of  his  early  youth,  and  even  to  the  graves 
of  his  ancestors.  Yet  all  these  will  he  forsake  when  his  conscience 
calls  for  the  sacrifice.  So  thought  and  so  acted  the  Puritans  who 
settled  New  England.  The  rulers  of  their  native  land,  and  the 
church  in  which  they  were  nurtured  and  fed,  like  an  unnatural 
step-mother,  as  in  their  anger  they  called  her,  cast  them  out  for 
non-conformity  to  a  few  idle  ceremonies  she  was  pleased  to  enjoin. 
They  could  not  in  conscience  obey.  They  had  persuaded  them- 
selves that  this  gaudy  worship  was  popish  and  idolatrous,  and 
therefore  to  be  resisted  at  all  hazards  ;  and  so  believing,  they 
left,  such  of  them  as  were  not  driven  away,  their  native  laud,  and 
came  to  this  wilderness. 

The  settlers  of  Exeter  belonged  to  this  sect  of  Christians. 
When  they  joined  themselves  to  their  brethren  of  Massachusetts, 
they  had  the  hope  that  they  had  reached  the  termination  of  all 
their  sufferings  for  conscience's  sake.  And  was  this  an  unreason- 
able hope?  In  this  New  World,  what  should  hinder  their  enjoy- 
ing in  brotherly  love  and  Christian  fellowship  the  pure,  simple 
worship  of  God,  unmixed  with  popish  superstitions;  accountable 
for  their  Christian  faith  and  religious  observances,  not  to  the 
infallible  head  of  the  popish  or  the  never-erring  head  of  the 
English  churches,  but  to  the  unerring  head  of  the  true  church, 
Christ  himself.  This  was  the  Puritan  doctrine  in  Euo-land.  And 
they  were  mistaken.  Their  teacher  in  theology,  it  was  believed, 
had  assigned  an  undue  proportion  to  the  covenant  of  grace  in 
the  economy  of  salvation,  and  in  politics  they  were  also  found  in 
error.  They  wished  to  continue  Vane  in  the  chair  of  government, 
whereas  the  majority,  as  it  proved  at  the  next  election,  preferred 
his  rival.  Both  questions  were  alike  settled  b}^  major  vote. 
Where  was  now  the  right  of  private  judgment  in  matters  of 
religion,  where  conscience  is  so  deeply  concerned?  For  these 
offences  (for  in  minorities  they  are  offences),  they  must  now  pass 
once  more  through  the  fiery  furnace  of  persecution.  This  second 
death  was  far  more  painful  than  the  first.  It  was  upon  grounds 
far  less  intelligible  than  the  first.  It  was  upon  a  difference  of 
opinion  in  abstruse  points  in  theology. 

When  persecution  visits  a  country,  it  is  their  boldest  as  well  as 
their  best  men  who  become  its  victims.  When  all  other  earthly 
hopes  fail,  they  abandon  their  firesides  and  their  altars,  that  they 
may  keep  their  consciences.  It  is  the  weak  and  timid  minds  who 
remain  at  home.     They  meanly  crouch  beneath  the  rod  of  the 


452  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

oppressor,  afraid  to  exercise  tlieir  reasoning  powers.  They  find 
it  safest  to  conceal  tlieir  religious  opinions,  and  seek  security  in 
hypocrisy.  "Who  fled  from  France  on  the  revocation  of  the  Edict 
of  Nantes,  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago?  The  choicest  s])ii'its 
of  that  gallant  nation ;  the  men  of  the  greatest  intellectual  and 
moral  strength.  They  enriched  the  neighboring  nations.  Our 
population  in  America  gained  moral  and  intellectual  strength  by 
this  foolish  as  well  as  wicked  measure  of  Louis  XIV.  To  this 
cause  we  are  indebted  for  our  Bowdoins,  our  Dexters,  our  Jays, 
DeLanceys,  Boudinots,  Hugers.  Who  were  the  men  driven  from 
England  by  the  bloody  Mary  and  her  no  less  cruel  sister  ?  The 
Puritans  :  men  of  whom  the  world  was  not  worthy.  The  effect  of 
persecution  for  opinions,  is  to  set  people  to  thinking  and  reason- 
ing. It  improves  the  intellectual  and  moral  powers  —  gives  added 
strength  and  firmness  of  purpose  But  I  am  afraid  it  hardens  the 
heart ;  for  how  often  do  we  find  the  persecuted,  on  a  change  of 
circumstances,  themselves  acting  the  wicked  part  of  persecutors? 
And  so  it  was  in  New  England  in  her  early  days. 

Before  the  arrival  of  his  friends,  Mr.  Wheelwright  had  pur- 
chased from  the  Sagamore  of  Piscataqua  a  large  tract  of  land,  — 
upwards  of  five  hundred  thousand  acres.  There  is  no  pretence 
that  the  men  of  Exeter  acquired  any  legal  title  by  this  purchase. 
Neither  Wheelwright,  nor  any  of  the  other  grantees  named  in  the 
deed,  ever  asserted  any  exclusive  right  in  himself.  The  tow^n 
acted  as  the  proprietors.  I  would  not  be  understood  to  adopt  Sir 
Edmund  Andros's  language,  "  that  such  deeds  were  no  better  than 
the  scratch  of  a  bear's  paw." 

The  first  settlers  at  the  time  had  no  mode  of  obtaiuino;  a  lesral 
title.  The  Council  of  Plymouth  had  been  dissolved  a  short  time 
before,  and  Mason,  to  whom  they  had  granted,  was  dead  ;  and 
his  devisees  were  infants,  and  no  claim  was  made  in  their  behalf 
for  thirty  years  ;  and  then  tliey  waked  up,  not  to  benefit  them- 
selves, but  to  vex  and  disquiet  the  peaceable  inhabitants  who, 
though  destitute  of  a  legal,  had,  nevertheless,  the  most  equitable 
of  all  titles  :  —  purchase  from  the  natural  owners  ;  ?'>//_(/  possession, 
without  any  adverse  claim  ;  the  dffence  of  the  settlement  against 
the  savages  and  the  French ;  and  the  cultivation  and  settlement 
of  a  part  of  the  country,  whereby  the  value  of  the  rest  was  greatly 
enhanced.  In  truth,  they  paid  the  full  value  and  more,  and  could 
with  a  clear  conscience  hold  the  lands  they  claimed,  against  the 
world. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  453 

r  cannot  learn  that  onr  Indians  ever  complained,  or  afterwards 
set  up  anj^  title  to  the  lands  sold  to  Wheelwright.  The  transac- 
tion between  Wheelwright  and  the  sagamore  was  a  sufficient 
license  to  settle  and  occupy,  and  was  highl}'  creditable  to  his  liber- 
ality, prudence  and  care  of  his  flock.  But  our  ancestors  could 
not  only  find  no  one  to  sell  them  the  lands  they  possessed,  but 
they  could  find  no  person  to  govern  them.  As  English-born 
subjects,  they  knew  they  could  not  throw  off  their  allegiance  to 
the  Crown.  But  the  Crown  had  no  representative  in  New  Eng- 
land. Massachusetts  governed  itself,  and  so,  in  fact,  did  all  the 
other  settlements.  From  necessity,  therefore,  this  handful  of  men 
were  compelled  to  resort  to  original  principles.  That  the  weak 
might  be  protected  against  the  strong,  and  the  good  against  the 
bad,  they  seem  at  first,  by  mere  verbal  agreement,  to  have  insti- 
tuted government. 

At  the  close  of  the  first  year,  on  the  fourth  of  July,  1639,  they 
solemnly  subscribed  a  written  instrument,  or  constitution,  which 
they  called  a  Combination.  With  an  acknowledgment  of  some 
sort  of  dependence  on  the  Crown,  they  adopted  the  Phiglish  Chris- 
tian laws,  as  they  understood  them, —  doubtless  intending  in  this 
truly  democratic  government,  to  reject,  in  toto,  all  that  regarded 
the  hierarchy  and  church  establishment,  which  they  deemed  popish 
and  anti-Christian,  and  altogether  unsuitable  to  a  settlement  lil^e 
ours.  In  this  opinion  they  were  far  more  correct  than  the  tyrant 
Governor  Cranfield,  half  a  century  afterwards,  who  instituted  a 
criminal  prosecution  against  Mr.  Moody,  the  minister  of  Ports- 
mouth, for  disobedience  to  that  system,  in  refusing  to  administer 
the  sacrament,  according  to  the  rites  of  the  English  Church,  to 
himself  and  his  unworthy  associates.  Mr.  Moody  withstood  the 
little  tyrant  to  his  fall,  and  suffered  imprisonment  for  a  long  time 
in  the  common  jail. 

John  Wheelwright  of  Lincolnshire  was  born  in  the  latter  end 
of  the  reign  of  Elizabeth.  His  ancestors,  no  doubt,  were  of 
respectable  standing  in  society,  for  he  inherited  a  considerable 
real  estate,  which  he  disposed  of  by  his  last  will.  His  parents  had 
the  good  sense  to  bestow  a  portion  of  their  wealth  in  giving  their 
son  a  learned  education.  He  had  bright  parts,  and  in  youth  was 
remarkable  for  the  boldness,  zeal  and  firmness  of  mind  he  dis- 
played on  all  occasions.  He  was  educated  for  the  ministry,  but 
embracing  the  Puritan  sentiments,  he  necessarily  incurred  the 
censure   of    the    Church   for    non-conformity.     Laud   was    then 


454  HISTORY  OF  EXETEK. 

Arcb))isbop  of  Canterbury,  aud  determined  to  enforce  tbe  strictest 
observance  of  tbe  ceremonies.  We  are  not  informed  of  tbe  partic- 
ular in  wbicb  AVbeelwrigbt  failed.  Cotton's  Avas,  not  kneeling  at 
tbe  sacrament. 

Laud  was  a  learned  and  probably  a  sincere  man  ;  but,  like  many 
otber  good  men,  be  indulged  an  excessive  fondness  for  tbe 
pageantry  and  splendor  of  public  worsbip  ;  for  tbe  miuutiie  aud 
exterior  parts  of  religion.  He  was,  at  tbe  same  time,  tbe  most 
active  member  of  tbe  Higb  Commission  Court  —  a  tribunal  witb 
wbicb  many  of  our  early  and  distinguisbed  clergy  bad  occasion  to 
be  well  acquainted.  Wben  tbe  great  and  undefined  power  of  tbis 
Court  was  wielded  by  a  determined  Higb  Cburcbman,  no  Puritan 
could  exercise  bis  ministry  witbin  its  reacb,  and  its  jurisdiction 
was  co-extensive  witb  tbe  kingdom  itself.  Tbe  learned,  mild  and 
catbolic  Cotton  could  not  elude  its  pursuivants.  He  was  obliged 
to  fly  bis  country  like  a  felon.  Mr.  Wbeelwrigbt  came  to  Boston 
about  tbree  years  after  Cotton. 

Every  tbiug  went  on  prosperously  as  could  be  desired,  in  tbe 
new  settlement.  A  cburcb  was  gatbered,  and  Mr.  AVbeelwrigbt, 
of  course,  was  tbe  pastor.  Moderate  gTauts  of  land  were  made 
to  bim.  He  bad  no  otber  compensation  for  bis  services  and 
advances.  His  knowledge  and  superior  talents  must  bave  been 
extremely  useful  in  tbe  infant  plantation.  Our  early  records  sbow 
a  strong  and  grateful  sense  of  tbe  obligation  on  tbe  part  of  tbe 
town.  For  a  sbort  time  be  deemed  bimself  safe  from  bis  perse- 
cutors ;  but  Massacbusetts  in  that  day  bad  a  politic  bead  and 
a  long  arm.,  and  Mr.  Wbeelwrigbt  was  obliged  to  remove,  and  tbe 
four  New  Hampsbire  towns  submitted  to  Massacbusetts, — Exeter 
tbe  last.     Tbis  was  in  1643. 

Wbeelwrigbt,  just  before  bis  removal,  obtained  of  Sir  Ferdiuaudo 
Gorges  a  grant  of  a  considerable  tract  in  Wells.  In  tbe  deed  be 
is  styled  "Pastor  of  tbe  Cburcb  in  Exeter."  He  remained  in 
Wells  about  tbree  years. 

His  next  remove  was  to  Hampton.  Tbat  people  greatly  desired 
bis  ministerial  services.  He  remained  eigbt  or  nine  years  at 
Hampton,  and  tben  returned  to  England,  wbere  be  renewed  bis 
acquaintance  witb  bis  old  classmate,  Oliver  Cromwell,  aud  witb 
bis  old  friend.  Sir  Henry  Vane.  Botb  tbese  distinguisbed  men, 
tbougb  at  odds  witb  eacb  otber,  were  friendly  to  Wbeelwrigbt. 
Tbis  was  near  tbe  close  of  Ci-omwell's  eventful  life.    Wbeelwrigbt 


HISTORY  OF  EXETEU.  4o5 

is  said  to  have  been  a  favorite  witli  the  Pi'otector.  While  iu  Ens:- 
laud  he  probably  resided  chiefly  on  his  estate  in  Lincolnshire,  one 
hundred  and  thirty  miles  north  of  Loudon. 

At  the  Restoration,  in  1660,  he  returned,  and  was  soon  settled 
in  Salisbur}^,  in  our  vicinity,  as  the  successor  of  their  first  minis- 
ter, Mr.  W.  Worcester.  Here  he  closed  a  long  and  busy  life, 
being  reputed  a  sound,  orthodox,  pi'ofitable  and  approved  minister 
of  the  gospel.  He  died  November,  1679 — the  oldest  minister  in 
New  England  —  about  eighty-five  years  of  age. 

From  his  family  proceeded  all  the  Wheelwrights  iu  Massachu- 
setts, Maine  and  New  Hampshire.  Many  of  his  descendants  have 
been  respectable  in  character  and  property.  His  son,  grandson 
and  great-grandson  have  been  councillors.  Thus  it  pleased  heaven 
to  bestow  on  him  the  blessing  of  long  life,  and  a  numerous  and 
honorable  progeny. 

I  have  gone  into  the  history  of  Mr.  Wheelwright's  persecution 
and  sufferings,  not  for  the  purpose  of  condemning  the  errors  and 
wrongs  of  the  government  of  that  day,  but  to  vindicate  the  char- 
acter of  our  founder.  We  have  an  interest  in  his  good  name,  and 
he  who  robs  him  of  that,  robs  us.  I  entertain  no  doubt  that, 
speaking  in  general  terms,  the  elders  and  magistrates  of  Massa- 
chusetts were  good  men,  and  thought  themselves  justified  in  their 
treatment  of  AVheelwright  and  his  friends.  Without  a  minute  and 
careful  examination  of  this  case  we  can  have  no  just  conception  of 
the  early  settlers,  their  bigotry,  superstition  and  intolerance.  It 
ai'ose  in  some  measure  from  their  peculiar  situation  ;  and  no  trans- 
action of  the  early  day  can  be  understood  without  a  minute  atten- 
tion to  these  traits  in  their  character.  To  omit  these,  in  giving  a 
history  of  that  time,  would  be  like  enacting  Shakespeare's  Hamlet, 
leaving  out  the  character  of  the  Prince  of  Denmark. 

Religion  at  that  day  entered  into  every  thing  ;  the  magistrates 
were  elected,  and  the  government  administered,  according  to  the 
particular  religious  views  of  the  majority.  Both  clergy  and  laity 
were  made  worse  by  the  union,  just  as  they  themselves  believed 
to  be  the  case  in  the  country  whence  they  came.  Many  of  the 
writers  of  these  times  were  unfriendly  to  Wheelwright  and  Vane  ; 
yet  even  they  are  obliged  to  admit  that  Wheelwright  was  famous 
for  learning,  ability,  piety  and  zeal,  and  that  his  moral  character 
was  entirely  free  from  spot  or  blemish. 

The  amiable  Elliot  says,  Mr.  Wheelwright's  conduct  "  in  New 
Hampshire  discovered  an  ambitious  turn  —  a  desire  to  be  chief." 


456  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Sullivan,  in  his  history  of  Maine,  adds  to  the  ambition,  of  being 
the  first  man  in  Exeter  in  1638,  that  of  mingling  in  the  quarrels  of 
Dover  with  the  redoubtable  Underhill,  Lai'kham  and  Knolles,  "as 
they  pretended  about  religion,  but  in  fact  for  the  chair  of  the  Dover 
government." 

The  Exeter  men  are  supposed  to  have  taken  sides  with  their 
chief,  in  these  ambitious  schemes  of  rule.  I  have  spared  no  pains 
to  make  myself  acquainted  with  the  written  memorials  of  Exeter, 
and  all  other  records  and  information  within  my  reach,  and  I 
venture  to  say  nothing  can  be  further  from  the  truth.  This 
account  of  the  early  times  here,  to  compare  small  things  with 
great,  is  just  about  as  fabulous  as  the  early  history  of  Rome. 

A  short  time  after  Wheelwright's  removal  to  Maine,  on  his 
application,  his  sentence  of  banishment  was  repealed.  Some 
writers  say  he  made  an  open  confession  of  his  errors.  The  letters 
are  preserved,  and  speak  for  themselves.  He  expressed  his  sorrow 
for  the  part  he  had  taken  in  the  controversy,  aud  his  grief  at  the 
censorious  speeches  he  had  made,  and  his  unchristian  temper  in 
the  sharp  contentions  of  that  day.  I  have  no  doubt  of  the  sin- 
cerity of  all  this.  His  personal  attendance  was  dispensed  with. 
Hubbard's  remark  is  no  doubt  correct,  —  "and  so  if  the  Court 
have  over  done  in  passnig  the  sentence,  it  might  in  part  help  to 
balance  the  account,  that  they  were  so  ready  to  grant  him  a 
release." 

Among  the  persons  who  united  their  fortunes  to  ours  during 
the  first  century  (for  I  must  confine  myself  for  obvious  reasons 
chiefly  to  that  period),  and  whose  names  are  still  "familiar  to 
our  ears  as  household  words,"  —  the  men  who  bore  the  heat  and 
burden  of  the  day,  and  to  whom  this  day  must  be  devoted  ;  — 
among  these  men  we  find  the  names  of  Oilman,  Folsom,  Hilton, 
Colcord,  Thing,  Gordon,  Magoon,  Conner,  Kobinson,  Pearson, 
Lawrence,  King,  Odiorne,  Lamson,  Tilton,  Philbrick,  Poor,  Perr^'^- 
man,  Emery  and  many  others.  The  descendants  of  these  respect- 
able men  still  dwell  among  us.  Time  would  fail  me  even  briefly 
to  mention  the  good  things  our  records  abundantly  testify  con- 
cerning them  ;  —  how  acceptably  they  filled  the  municipal  and 
public  offices  conferred  upon  them.  Bat  I  cannot  deny  myself 
the  pleasure  of  a  brief  notice  of  two  or  three. 

It  is  no  disparagement  to  any  other  family  here,  to  say  that  in 
numbers,    and   every   thing   that    constitutes   respectability,    the 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  457 

Gilmans  stood  at  the  head.  The  father,  Edward,  had  come  to 
Hiugham,  and  was  admitted  a  freeman  of  Massachusetts  abont 
the  time  of  our  first  settlement.  He  soon  removed  to  Ipswich, 
and  near  the  close  of  his  life  followed  his  three  sons  to  Exeter, 
where  he  died.  The  sons,  Edward,  Moses  and  John,  were  all 
sensible,  moral,  industrious  and  enterprising,  and  very  soon  made 
themselves  acquainted  with  the  best  methods  of  advancing  a  new 
settlement  in  the  wilderness.  Edward,  the  son,  came  first,  and 
was  very  much  engaged  in  setting  up  mills,  —  useful  at  all  times, 
and  indispensably  so  at  this  early  stage  of  our  affairs.  He  came 
soon  after  Wheelwright's  removal,  and  seems  quite  early  to  have 
taken  the  lead  in  our  town  affairs,  and  to  have  shared  large]}',  as 
long  as  he  lived,  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  townsmen.  I  need 
scarcely  add  that  he  was  public-spirited.  To  obtain  improved 
machinery  and  mill-gear,  he  took  a  voyage  to  England  in  1653, 
and  was  lost  at  sea.  Of  Moses,  we  hear  less  ;  he  left  a  numerous 
progeny. 

The  town  and  province  records,  together  with  those  of  Massa- 
chusetts, would  enable  us  to  trace  the  life  of  John,  the  youngest 
son,  at  considerable  length;  but  I  must  be  brief.  He  came  here 
a  short  time  before  Edward  sailed; — married  a  respectable 
woman,  and  had  sixteen  children,  twelve  or  thirteen  of  whom 
married  and  left  issue.  Among  his  sons  were  John  and  Nicholas. 
The  latter  had  seven  sons,  one  of  whom  was  Daniel,  born  in  1702, 
the  father  of  Nicholas  who  was  the  first  treasurer  of  our  State. 
This  Nicholas  filled  the  most  responsible  oflices,  and  was  the 
father  of  the  late  John  Taylor,  who,  when  a  young  man,  was  re- 
called from  Congress  to  succeed  his  late  father  in  the  treasurer's 
office,  early  iu  1783.  I  need  not  enumerate  the  offices  this  son 
filled  with  so  much  credit  to  himself  and  honor  to  the  State,  and 
double  honor  to  his  native  town.  He  was  eleven  years  succes- 
sively governor,  and  afterwards  three  years,  making  a  longer 
period  than  that  filled  by  any  other  person.  Probably  the  same 
thing  may  be  said  at  the  next  cevtenmal;  and  I  am  sure  no  man 
in  private  or  public  life  ever  left  a  fairer  reputation  behind  him, 
for  firmness,  integrity  and  independence. 

The  second  son,  Nicholas,  you  all  know.  He  entered  the 
Revolutionary  army  early  in  the  war,  and  had  a  full  share  of  its 
sufferings  and  its  glory  to  the  close.  In  1786  he  was  appointed  a 
member  of  the  old  Congress  ;  and,  excepting  a  short  period  when 
he  was  a  senator  in  the  State  Legislature,  and  presided  over  that 


458  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

body,  he  was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Kepreseutativcs  and  of 
the  Senate  of  the  United  States  until  his  death  in  1814.  He  was 
also  a  member  of  the  convention  which  formed  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States.  His  integrity  and  patriotism  in  all  these 
highly  honorable  and  responsible  offices  was  never  questioned  for 
a  moment. 

But  I  must  not  suffer  myself  to  be  diverted  from  the  ancestor, 
bvthe  eminent  characters  and  services  of  the  great-great-arandsons 
of  one  branch  of  his  numerous  descendants.  If  that  ancestor, 
one  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago,  could  have  been  indulged  with 
prophetic  vision  of  the  future,  and  could  have  beheld  the  various 
branches  of  his  descendants,  filling  the  highest  offices  in  public 
life  in  his  beloved  and  free  country,  it  Avould  surely  have  yielded 
him  a  pleasure  than  which  there  is  none  greater  ;  it  would  have 
cheered  his  old  age  to  the  very  verge  of  a  most  active,  long  and 
useful  life. 

The  records  of  our  town  show  the  first  John,  during  the  latter 
half  of  our  connection  with  Massachnsetts,  as  the  first  among  our 
able  and  respectable  men.  Accordingly,  when  disconnected,  in 
the  latter  end  of  the  reign  of  Charles  II.,  and  New  Hampshire 
became  a  separate  province  under  the  immediate  government  of 
the  Crown,  John  Oilman  was  selected  to  fill  the  office  of  councillor. 
The  chief  executive  and  legislative  power  was  vested  in  that  body. 
He  had  the  honor  to  be  suspended  from  that  body  by  Governor 
Cranfield.  The  measure  was  honorable  to  Mr.  Gilman,  and 
excited  no  surprise  in  the  public  mind,  or  his  own.  When  the 
courts  and  juries  were  packed,  why  should  the  Council,  the  supreme 
judiciary,  escape?     He  died  in  1708. 

From  his  son  descended  the  late  Brigadier  Gilman,  whom  some 
of  you  must  well  remember.  In  his  day  he  was  among  the  first 
men  of  our  country  ;  successively  representative,  speaker,  at  the 
head  of  the  militia,  and  a  member  of  the  Supreme  Executive 
Council,  appointed  by  the  Crown. 

It  would  take  too  much  of  our  precious  time  to  enumerate  all 
the  names  of  this  respectable  family  who  have  been  able  and 
useful  ministers  of  the  gospel,  members  of  the  Council,  and  judges 
in  our  highest  courts  of  law,  all  of  whom  derived  their  descent 
from  this  single  stem,  and  connected  in  various  ways  with  the 
first  families  of  the  country.  I  will  only  add,  that  the  Gilmans  at 
all  times,  under  the  provincial,  colonial  and  State  governments, 
have  been  unwavering  in  their  patriotism  and  love  of  country. 


IIISTOKY  OF  EXETER.  459 

The  Folsoms,  a  distingnisbed  family,  came  early  to  us  ;  prob- 
ably they  were  settled  awhile  at  Hingham,  where  they  acted  a 
distiuguished  part  in  a  memorable  dispute  in  that  place.  They 
have  filled  no  small  space  in  our  annals.  The  late  General 
Folsom  was  a  most  zealous  patriot  of  the  Eevolution,  and  a  member 
of  the  old  Congress.  In  the  French  war  of  1755,  he  distinguished 
himself  as  an  officer  under  General  Johnson,  at  the  capture  of  the 
Baron  Dieskau,  near  Lake  George. 

But  one  of  the  most  celebrated  names  in  our  annals  is  that  of 
Hilton.  Edward  Hilton  is  justly  called  the  father  of  New  Hamp- 
shire. He  came  from  London,  and  settled  in  Dover  in  the  spring 
of  1623.  Here  he  resided  from  fifteen  to  twenty  years,  and  then 
removed  to  P^xeter.  He  died  in  1671,  leaving  a  large  estate.  His 
son  Edward  married  the  granddaughter  of  Governors  Winthrop 
and  Dudley.  His  son  Winthrop,  the  fruit  of  that  marriage,  was 
better  educated  than  most  young  men  of  the  day,  and  was  early 
introduced  into  public  life.  He  was  distinguished  as  a  soldier, — 
"amoug  the  most  fearless  of  the  biave,  the  most  adventurous  of 
the  daring."  He  was,  of  course,  much  in  service,  for  he  lived  in 
stirring  and  troublous  times,  in  the  reigns  of  William  and  Anne. 
His  uncle,  the  second  Governor  Dudley,  was  then  governor  of 
Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire,  and  had  great  confidence  in 
him.  Hilton  was  particularly  obnoxious  to  the  Indians,  having 
been  successful  in  many  encounters  with  them.  "His  sharp  black 
eye  and  his  lojig  bright  gim"  struck  terror  into  the  hearts  of  the 
savages.  They  long  watched  for  an  opportunity  to  cut  him  off 
on  his  plantation  at  the  Newfields.  He  was  largely  concerned  in 
the  masting  business  ;  and  in  1710,  Avhile  so  employed  in  that 
part  of  Exeter  now  Epping,  his  party  was  suddenly  surprised, 
and  Colonel  Hilton  fell  at  the  first  fire.  He  was  then  under  forty, 
and  a  mandamus  councillor,  and  died  universally  lamented.  He 
was,  indeed,  an  honest  and  brave  man. 

We  have  seen  that  Exeter  was  an  independent  State  from  the 
settlement  till  1643.  There  was  no  connection  between  the  four 
towns  then,  and  for  sixty  years  after,  composing  the  whole  State. 
Our  records  were  then  well  kept,  and  the  votes  and  orders  well 
penned,  perhaps  with  as  much  correctness  as  at  this  day.  From 
these  we  are  able  to  derive  some  information  concerning  the 
sentiments,  temper,  views  and  condition  of  the  people.  Their 
laws  and  regulations  were  few, — such  only  as  their  peculiar  cir- 
cumstances required. 


460  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

The  besetting  sin  of  this  day  is,  to  multiply  statutes  ;  many 
of  which  are  a  dead  letter,  and  some  worse.  It  is  many  times  the 
hardest  task  imposed  on  our  judges,  to  find  out  their  meaning. 
In  making  the  attempt,  we  ofteu  find  reason  to  believe  that  the 
makers  did  not  understand  their  own  meaning.  The  Combination 
was  no  doubt  from  Wheelwright's  pen,  and  compares  well  with 
similar  compositions  before  and  since.  It  is  the  only  act  of  incor- 
poration our  town  has  ever  had.  We  are  a  self-created  body 
politic. 

We  cannot  now  determine  how  many  of  our  inhabitants  were 
church  members,  certainly  all  were  not.  All  who  owned  the  soil 
participated  in  the  government.  The  attempt  to  exclude  all  but 
church  members  is  visionary'  and  impracticable.  It  cannot  last 
long,  and  generally  the  society  is  not  a  quiet  one  while  it  does 
last.  The  Massachusetts  government  of  church  members  was  in 
fact  an  aristocracy.  With  us  the  legislative  power  was  conven- 
iently exei'cised  by  the  people.  Tlie  executive  and  prudential 
functions  were  vested  in  a  Ruler,  with  two  assistants.  The  Ruler 
and  the  people  were  mutually  bound  by  oaths  in  the  form  pre- 
scribed. Treason  and  sedition  were  punished  with  death.  Texts 
of  scripture  were  added  to  this  law,  which  show  the  respect  of 
the  framers  for  the  Jewish  polity  ;  a  worse  model,  and  one  less 
adapted  to  their  circumstances  and  condition,  they  could  hardly 
have  chosen.  Our  law  makers  had  a  most  exalted  opinion  of  the 
dignity  of  rulers.  Nothing  could  exceed  their  zeal  to  preserve, 
pure  and  untarnished,  their  good  name.  Insolence  to  magistrates 
and  contempt  of  authority  were  never  suffered  to  escape  severe 
punishment.  As  they  are  the  mirrors  in  which  the  majesty  of  the 
people  is  beheld,  this  evinced  the  gi-eat  respect  the  people  had 
for  themselves. 

Our  notions  are  quite  different ;  we  treat  our  rulers  as  if  they 
were  usurpers,  and  chose  themselves  instead  of  being  the  work  of 
our  own  hands.  They  are  the  hxdt^ — the  target  at  which  every  man 
may  safely  thrust  his  poisoned  arrows.  Whether  this  tends  to 
make  them  high-minded  and  faithful  to  us  and  our  interests.  I 
will  not  pretend  to  say.  If  they  are,  it  is  at  a  considerable 
sacrifice  ;  for  it  has  been  observed  that  few  men  leave  office  with 
the  same  purity  of  character  and  reputation  they  enter  upon  it. 
What  is  the  equivalent  they  receive  for  this  ?  Calumny  and  slan- 
der of  individuals  were  also  made  highly  penal.  Such  prosecutions 
were,  of  course,  frequent. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  4C1 

There  were  laws,  nlso,  for  the  protection  of  the  few  Indians 
that  seem  to  have  remained  a  short  time  among  ns.     Trade  with 
them    in  arms,  amnumition    and  strong   waters  was  strictly  for- 
bidden.    If  any  piu'chase  was  made  from  the  Indians,  it  belonged 
to  the  town,  if  they  chose  to  have  it.     This  was  politic,  and  tended 
to  prevent  fraud.     Town  meetings  were  the  subject  of  regulations, 
and  all  the  A^oters  required,  under  a  penalty,  to  attend.     Regula- 
tions were  made  for  the  organization  of  the  militia, — the  appoint- 
ment of  officers  was,  in  the  train  band,  subject  to  the  approbation 
of  the  ruler.     Laws  also  were  made  for  the  assessment  and  collec- 
tion  of   taxes ;   and   various    and   minute   regulations  respecting 
animals  of  all  kinds.     Even  dogs  did  not  escape  their  notice.     The 
same  may  be  said  of  fishing,  and  lumber,  and  laws  were  enacted 
to  prevent  waste  and  destruction  of  timber.     There  was  a  fore- 
cast on  this  subject  hardly  to  have  been  expected  in  the  midst  of 
so  great  abundance.     The  highways  and  bridges  came  in  for  their 
share  of  attention.     There  was  a  law  against  setting  fire  to  the 
woods  ;  and,  what  we  should  hardly  have  expected,  a  law  requiring 
trees  overhanging  the  adjoining  owner's  land  to  be  cut  down,  or 
lopped.     And  there  was  also  a  law,  copied  I  believe  from  that  of 
Massachusetts,  about  digging  pits  and  leaving  them  open.     The 
sale  of  wine  and  strong  waters  was  subject  to  license.     A  few 
orders  were  also  made  regulating  trials  and  judicial  proceedings, 
and,  as  far  as  we  can  now  judge,  justice  was  impartially  adminis- 
tered.     A    society   more    homogeneous    in   its    elements,    more 
affectionate  and  correct  in  morals,  can  hardly  be  imagined ;  and 
without  these  no  new  settlement  can  be  made.     Weston's  company 
at   Weymouth,  and   Morton's    at   Mount   Wollaston,    sufficiently 
establish  the  fact.     The  latter  was  for  a  while  called  the  Merry 
Mount,     Its  appropriate  name  soon  became  that  of  Mount  Misery. 
As  a  mere  physical  being,  man  must  be  governed  as  animals 
are  —  by  others  ;  generally  by  force.     As  a  moral  being,  he  must 
be  instructed  in  morals,  and  that  can  hardly  be  without  i-eligion. 
Our  Constitution  treats  of  them  as  existing  only  in  union.     A  few 
settlers,  unaccustomed  to  the  ownership  of  wild  lands,  might  be 
expected  to  err  in  the  management  and   disposition  of  a  large 
tract.     They  seem  to  have   been  troubled  with  no  doubts  about 
their  title  ;  and,  in  fact,  never  were  disturbed.    The  same  number 
of  the  people  of   1835-6-7  would  have  made  shipwreck  at  once. 
The  whole  territory  would  have  been  granted  out  in  the  first  year. 
Here,  more  than  one  hundred  years  were  occupied  in  the  disposi- 


462  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

tiou  of  the  lands.  Every  man  had  his  share  as  he  needed  it. 
There  was  no  speculation.  Liberal  grants  were  made  to  the  mill 
OAvners,  and  a  small  rent  reserved  for  the  support  of  the  ministry, 
while  the  tunber  lasted. 

In  May,  1643,  there  was  a  great  scarcity  of  corn  through  the 
land,  and  it  was  severely  felt  here.  Authority  was  given  by  the 
town  to  four  of  the  most  respectable  inhal)itants  to  search  the 
houses,  and  where  more  was  found  than  they  should  judge  neces- 
sary/or the  use  of  the  family,  they  were  to  take  it  at  the  usual 
price,  and  dispose  of  it  among  the  poor  for  such  pay  as  they  could 
make.  The  measure  was  arbitrary,  but  justified  by  the  occasion. 
If  the  laws  and  regulations  of  that  day  were  not  the  best  possible, 
I  have  no  doubt  they  were  much  better  than  those  framed  by  the 
Solomon  of  the  age  for  his  colonies. 

"Whatever  may  have  been  the  case  as  regards  Dover  and  Ports- 
mouth, it  does  not  appear  that  this  settlement  could  not  have  con- 
tinued many  years  in  their  independent  state.  They  were  the  last 
to  yield  to  Massachusetts,  and  seem  never  to  have  been  favorites. 
The  connection  lasted  thirty-six  years,  and  the  dissolution  was 
not  occasioned  by  any  dissatisfaction  on  the  part  of  the  New 
Hampshire  towns.  A  new  county  was  created,  called  Norfolk,  of 
which  Exeter  and  Hampton  were  parts  ;  Salisbury  the  shire  town. 
The  separation  was  in  1679,  —  twelve  years  before  the  disgraceful 
tragedy  of  1691-2  was  enacted.  We  thus  narrowly  escaped  the 
shame  and  guilt  of  the  prosecutions  for  witchcraft. 

A  very  brief  account  will  now  be  attempted  of  the  ecclesiastical 
affairs  of   the  town  —  chiefly  of   the  first   century.     The  church 
established   here   by   Mr.    Wheelwright   was   composed   of    men 
doubly  tried  in  the  fiery  furnace  of  persecution.     They  suffered 
on  his  as  well  as  on  their  own  account.     They  came  here  because 
he  came,  and  on  his  third  banishment  many  removed  witli  him. 
Indeed,  the  church  was  broken  up  —  how  short  lived! — the  first 
church  established  in  New  Hampshire  !     But  I  trust  religion  did 
not  depart.     Our  settlers  were  religious  men  —  Puritans.     They 
could  sa}',  as  Massachusetts  did  in  that  "transcript  (as  they  called 
it)  of  loyal  hearts  to  the  best  of  kings,"  as  they  called  Charles  II., 
"We  could  not  live  without  the  public  worship  of  God,  without 
human  mixture,  and  without  a  sinful  yoke  of  conformities."    They 
could   not  live  without  a  preached  gospel.     They  were  small  in 
number,  and  by  no  means  in  aflfluent  circumstances,  but  they  had 
lands  to  bestow.    With  these,  and  the  lumber  they  sent  to  market, 
■they  could  support  a  stated  minister. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  4G3 

A  number  of  the  iuluibitants  early  expressed  the  desire  to  settle 
the  aged  Mr.  Bachellor,  lately  dismissed  at  Hampton  for  irregular 
conduct ;  but  the  town  took  no  part  in  the  matter,  and  the  friends 
of  the  measure  luckily  were  unable  to  satisfy  the  civil  authority 
in  Massachusetts,  without  whose  consent  no  church  could  be 
formed.  The  magistrate  must  be  satisfied  of  their  fitness  for  a 
church  estate,  and  of  the  qualifications  of  the  minister  best 
adapted  to  their  wants. 

In  May,  1646,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Norcross  was  invited  to  settle 
here.  This  man  was  a  university  scholar.  He  declined,  and 
probably  soon  returned  to  England.  A  j^ear  or  two  afterwards 
it  was  agreed  to  invite  Mr.  Tompson  of  Braintree,  and  the  com- 
mittee were  instructed  to  consult  with  the  Elders  of  Boston, 
Charlestown  and  Eoxbury. 

•  ••••••• 

Mr.  Emerson  of  Rowley  was  soon  after  called.  He  declined. 
These  failures,— doubtless  blessings  in  disguise, — did  not  dis- 
courage our  people.  The  committee,  probably  by  the  advice  of 
the  Elders  they  were  required  to  consult,  directed  their  course  to 
Mr.  Samuel  Dudley,  the  eldest  son  of  Governor  Thomas  Dudley. 
The  son  was  born  in  England  about  1606,  and  came  to  this 
country  with  his  father  in  1630.  He  was  educated  in  England, 
but  probably  not  at  either  of  the  Universities.  It  is  not  certain 
he  was  designed  for  the  ministry.  He  had  resided  in  Boston, 
Cambridge  and  Eoxbury;  probably  teaching  school,  and  perhaps 
occasionally  preaching.  He  was  admitted  a  freeman  in  1640. 
He  had  served  at  one  time  as  a  lieutenant  under  Underhill.  About 
1633  he  married  Mary,  the  daughter  of  Governor  AVinthrop,  who 
had  followed  her  father  hither.  By  her  he  had  three  sons  and 
a  daughter.  As  early  as  1641  he  removed  to  Salisbury,  where 
his  wife  died.  The  daughter  was  afterwards  married  to  Edward 
Hilton  of  Exeter,  and  Winthrop  Hilton  was  the  fruit  of  this 
marriage.  We  thus  see  the  origin  of  the  Christian  names  of 
Winthrop  and  Dudley,  common  in  this  vicinity.  JMr.  Dudley 
married  a  second  and  third  wife,  and  had  fifteen  children.  He 
represented  Salisbury  in  the  General  Court  in  1644.  His  youngest 
daughter  was  married  to  Kinsley  Hall. 

The  old  historian  Johnson,  in  his  Wonder- WorMng  Providence, 
is  of  opinion  that  it  is  not  easy  to  purge  out  the  sour  leaven  of 
Antinomianism  and  familistical  opinions,  yet  thinks  that  hard 
labor    and  industry,  and  he  might  have    added   poor  living,  has 


464  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

some  tendency  that  Avay.  Our  society  bad  taken  a  pretty  strong 
dose  of  this  harsh  medicine.  But  if  any  shoukl  happen  to  remain, 
it  was  a  politic  step  to  choose  for  minister  the  son  and  son-in- 
law  of  such  influential  men  as  Dudley  and  Winthrop.  The  choice 
of  Mr.  Dudley  was  unanimous,  in  May,  1650.  He  could  not 
regularly  be  ordained  till  a  church  was  formed.  In  the  meantime 
he  was  to  do  the  duty  of  a  minister,  and  was  to  have  the  house 
and  lands,  purchased  of  Mr.  Wheelwright,  as  a  parsonage,  and 
forty  pounds  sterling  a  year.  For  such  improvements  as  he 
should  make  he  was  to  be  compensated  on  his  leaving,  either  by 
death,  or  "by  some  more  than  ordinary  call  of  God  other  ways." 
The  ordinary  call  guarded  against  was,  no  doubt,  an  invitation 
from  a  richer  society  with  the  offer  of  a  higher  salary.  The  salary 
was  to  be  paid  half  yearly  in  corn  and  English  commodities,  at 
current  price.  Various  modifications  of  the  contract  were  after- 
wards made.  The  salary  was,  no  doubt,  inadequate  even  in  that 
day,  but  it  appears  from  the  records  that  liberal  grants  of  lauds 
were  made  from  time  to  time  to  Mr.  Dudley  and  his  numerous 
family.  He  was,  doubtless,  soon  after  ordained,  and  the  connec- 
tion a  happy  one.  His  learning  and  gifts  seem  to  have  satisfied 
his  people,  and  it  was  not  the  fashion  of  that  day  to  starve  the 
minister  to  enrich  the  flock. 

Mr.  Dudley  was  well  acquainted  with  the  business  of  civil  life  ; 
and  as  the  town  were  wholly  destitute  at  that  time,  and  for  nearly 
a  century  after,  of  that  great  blessing,  a  lawyer,  Mr.  Dudley's 
services  were  iu  demand  ;  and  the  records  and  papers  I  have  seen 
furnish  abundant  evidence  that  they  were  skilfully  as  well  as 
usefully  performed.  He  was,  it  would  seem,  a  catholic,  liberal 
and  tolerant  man  —  which  was  no  small  improvement  on  the  old 
stock.  His  father  was  a  violent  persecutor  of  all  who  differed 
from  him  in  their  religious  opinions,  and  one  of  the  bitterest 
enemies,  among  the  lait}',  of  our  Wheelwright,  whom  his  son  suc- 
ceeded. He  viewed  toleration  as  among  the  seven  deadly  sins,  and 
when  he  came  to  die  I  suppose  he  found  no  sin  of  this  sort  to 
trouble  his  conscience. 

In  1656  Mr.  Dudley  was  invited  to  settle  iu  Portsmouth,  at  a 
salary  (the  money  part)  double  that  of  Exeter.  He  seems  at  one 
time  to  have  listened  favorably  to  the  proposal.  Probably  a  new 
arrangement  of  his  first  contract  prevented.  Mr.  Dudley  died 
the  tenth  of  February,  1683,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven. 

On  various  occasions  Mr.  Dudley  was  honored  with  marks  of 
confidence  by  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  ;  and  it  gives 


HISTUKY  OF  EXETEK.  465 

me  uufeigued  pleasure  to  meutiou  an  act  of  kindness  and  confi- 
dence done  to  him  by  his  ownjyeo])^.  It  appears  from  the  records, 
that  soon  after  his  settlement  a  commissioner  was  appointed  to 
vindicate,  at  the  expense  of  the  town,  "  the  credit  and  reputation 
of  Mr.  Dudley  against  the  speeches  and  calumniations  of  a  certain 
person "  (I  believe  a  Hampton  man) .  Mr.  Dudley  made  the 
proper  return  for  this  kindness.  In  1665,  when  we  incurred  the 
displeasure  of  Massachusetts,  in  consequence  of  a  report  that 
some  Exeter  men  had  signed  a  petition  to  the  Royal  Commissioner 
sent  out  by  Charles  II.,  which  was  supposed  to  reflect  on  the 
General  Court,  Mr.  Dudley  at  once  stepped  forward  and  vindi- 
cated the  men  of  Exeter,  declaring  them  to  be  '■'■  clever  fellows, 
and  incapable  of  any  such  baseness." 

The  fii'st  house  of  public  worship,  of  which  we  have  any  mention 
in  our  records,  was  built  in  1650,  and  was  tiventy  feet  square. 
There  was  afterwards  a  gallery  and  lean-to  added.  It  stood  on 
the  left-hand  side  of  the  road  leading  to  Newmarket,  in  the  north- 
erly part  of  the  present  village,  near  to  which  Mr.  Wheelwright 
lived.  I  am  sorry  the  Norfolk  records  show  it  was  not  kept, 
small  as  it  was,  "  in  a  proper  state  for  Christians  to  worship  in." 
This  our  disgrace  is  a  matter  of  record. 

Mr.  John  Clarke  succeeded  Mr.  Dudley  in  1698.  He  was  much 
esteemed  and  beloved.  He  married  the  granddaughter  of  the 
celebrated  Mr.  Woodbridge,  the  first  minister  of  Andover,  and 
the  great-granddaughter  of  the  first  Governor  Dudley.  Mr. 
Clarke  died  in  1705,  greatly  lamented,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty- 
five.  One  of  his  sons.  Ward  Clarice,  was  afterwards  minister  of 
Kingston.  From  one  of  his  daughters  was  descended  our  late 
respected  townsman,  Ward  Clarke  Deane. 

Mr.  John  Odlin  was  the  successor  of  Mr.  Clarke,  and  was 
settled  in  1706.  He  married  the  widow  of  his  predecessor,  by 
whom,  and  a  second  wife,  he  left  a  numerous  issue,  one  of  whom, 
Woodbridge,  became  his  colleague  in  1743.  The  father  died  in 
1754,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two.  The  son  married  a  daughter  of 
Brigadier  Gilman,  and  died  in  1776,  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven. 

The  new  parish  was  formed  about  the  time  of  the  second  Odlin's 
settlement.  Their  first  minister  was  Daniel  Rogers,  a  descendant 
in  the  seventh  degree  through  a  line  of  ministers  of  the  gospel, 
except  one,  from  the  Rev.  John  Rogers,  Prelate  of  St.  Paul's, 
and  Reader  in  Divinity,  who  was  burnt  at  Smithfield  in  1555,  the 
first  martyr  of  the  bloody  Mary's  reign.     Mr.  Daniel  Rogers  was 

30 


466  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

settled  in  1748,  aud  died  in  December,  1785,  aged  seventj'-eight. 

From  this  period  our  church  history  is  fresh  in  the  recollection 
of  you  all.  In  1695  or  1696,  the  second-meeting  house  was 
erected  ou  the  spot  where  this  house  now  stands.  It  is  stated  in 
the  records  as  on  the  hill  betAveen  the  great  fort  and  Nathaniel 
Folsom's  barn.  In  1728  the  third  house  was  erected  on  or  near 
the  site  of  the  second.  This  house  had  double  galleries,  as  most 
of  you  remember.  A  steeple  and  bell  were  added  in  1739,  and 
a  new  bell  in  1762.  The  steeple  was  blown  down  in  1775,  aud 
rebuilt  soon  after. 

Newmarket  was  set  off  in  1727,  Epping  and  Brentwood  in  1741, 
and  Poplin  from  the  latter  in  1764. 

An  account  of  the  early  settlement  of  Exeter  would  be  miserably 
deficient,  without  some  notice  of  the  sufferings  of  its  inhabitants 
from  Indian  hostilities  and  depredations.  The  Indians,  at  and 
near  Swamscot  Falls,  seem  to  have  been  few  in  number,  aud  less 
savage  in  character  than  most  others,  aud  especially  the  Eastern 
tribes.  The  improvements  of  such  as  remained,  after  the  settle- 
ment by  the  white  men,  were  secured  to  them  till  they  voluntarily 
made  sale  to  our  people,  and  they  were  fully  protected  in  their 
persons  and  property.  In  1643  great  fears  were  entertained  that 
the  Indians  in  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut  and  other  places  were 
uniting  in  a  conspiracy  to  expel  the  new  comers  from  their 
country.  They  did  not  like  us  on  trial  quite  so  well  as  they  had 
expected.  This  alarm  occasioned  the  union  of  the  New  England 
colonies,  which  lasted  till  1680.  There  continued  to  be,  at 
intervals,  fresh  alarms,  and  much  apprehension  of  open  hostilities. 
Some  depredations  were  actually  committed  on  Connecticut  river 
and  other  distant  places.  It  excited,  also,  much  apprehension  in 
our  quarter,  that  the  New  Hampshire  Indians,  about  1672,  quitted 
their  settlements  here,  and  sat  down  on  the  Hudson,  near  Troy, 
in  the  neighborhood  of  fiercer  tribes.  These  alarms  were  not 
without  foundation,  for,  in  1675,  thirty-seven  years  after  the 
settlement  here,  King  Philip's  War  began. 

The  scene  was  more  than  one  hundred  miles  from  us ;  but 
savages,  you  knoAV,  have  swift  feet, — and  on  every  breeze  was 
borne  the  war-whoop  and  it  required  little  aid  from  the  imagina- 
tion to  see  the  glittering  tomahawk  raised  to  strike  the  blow. 
Forty  houses  were  consumed  in  Groton  and  murders  committed 
in  Chelmsford,  and  nearer  still  in  Berwick,  York,  Winter  Harbor, 
etc.     But  Exeter  escaped  actual  hostilities  till  1690.     I  have  drawn 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  4G7 

a  circle  round  our  village  as  a  ceutre,  thirty-five  miles  in  diameter. 
The  number  of  killed  and  captives,  within  this  circle,  during  a 
period  of  forty  years,  exceeded  seven  hundred.  The  actual  suffer- 
ings of  Exeter  were  in  six  years,  between  1690  and  1710, 
when  the  much  lamented  Winthrop  Hilton  fell.  The  killed  and 
captives  were  between  thirty  and  fort3^  It  is  to  be  remembered, 
too,  that  our  population  was,  from  a  variety  of  causes,  then 
extremely  small.  Our  settlement  had  advanced  slowly.  Among 
the  names  of  the  killed,  as  appears  from  our  records,  were 
Ephraim  Folsom,  Sr.,  and  Goodman  Robinson.  The  loss  to  the 
country  of  Colonel  Hilton  was  irreparable.  Berwick,  Durham, 
Haverhill  and  Dover  suffered  the  most.  Unfortunately  they  and 
we  lay  directly  in  the  track  between  the  P^astern  and  Western 
Indians,  who  were  constantly  uniting  with  each  other  for  mischief, 
and  separating  for  safety  ; —  always  on  the  march. 

You  can  conceive,  or  rather,  you  cannot  conceive,  the  misery 
this  dreadful  state  of  things  inflicted  on  our  small  plantation. 
We  had  three  garrisons,  the  principal  oue  was  near  this  spot. 
Our  people  lived  in  continual  fear  of  the  savage  enemy.  Their 
home  was  in  the  garrison,  and  their  cultivated  fields  became  the 
fields  of  battle  and  of  blood.  There  can  be  no  true  happiness 
where  we  do  not  sleep  quietly  in  our  own  habitations,  whether 
they  be  log  huts  or  palaces.  A  garrison  is,  at  best,  but  a  misera- 
ble substitute  ;  and  who  can  sleep  with  the  sword  of  Damocles 
suspended  over  his  head  by  a  brittle  hair,  ready  to  break  at  any 
moment  ? 

The  effect  of  this  state  of  things  on  husbandry  must  have  soon 
become  manifest.  There  was  but  little  cultivation  in  places 
remote  from  the  garrisons.  The  planter,  who  is  obliged  to  oarry 
his  musket  with  his  hoe  and  axe,  will  soon  find  a  diminished  crop. 
Implements  of  husbandry  and  arms  to  defend  our  lives,  do  not  go 
well  together.  War  and  population  are  in  an  inverse  ratio  to  each 
other. 

I  must  be  allowed  here  to  say,  that  our  government  in  those 
days  seems  to  deserve  little  credit  for  the  management  of  their 
Indian  affairs.  The  French  seem  to  have  understood  the  Indian 
character  much  better.  It  is  no  reproach  to  the  Protestant  relig- 
ion that  the  Catholic  is  better  adapted  to  the  savage  tribes.  They 
understand  it  better  than  Calvinism. 

On  the  subject  of  our  husbandry  and  population,  there  are  other 
thinos  beside  Indian  hostilities  to  be  considered.    The  uncertainty 


4G8  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

in  our  land  titles  had  a  most  powerful  and  bad  effect.  Our  first 
planters  bad  uotbing  in  tbeir  cbaraeter  in  common  -with  speculators 
or  squatters.  They  bad  too  mucb  religion  and  morality  for  eitber  ; 
but_tbey  could  not  be  insensible  all  the  time  to  the  claim  of  the 
Masons,  and  that  it  was  regarded  at  home  as  the  only  legal  title. 
This  hung  over  them  like  an  incubus,  and  retarded  settlements 
and  improvements  of  all  kinds.  Perhaps,  too,  we  must  allow 
something  for  bad  government,  till  a  short  time  before  our  sepa- 
ration from  Great  Britain. 

At  the  end  of  the  first  century,  the  population  of  New  Hamp- 
shire did  not  exceed  ten  thousand,  and  ours  was  the  smallest  of 
the  four  towns.  We  had  but  twenty  qualified  voters  for  the  choice 
of  representatives,  as  fixed  by  the  Council  in  1680.  Exeter,  in 
its  ancient  limits,  in  1830  contained  7330  inhabitants. 

I  have  left  myself  no  room  to  speak  on  many  subjects  belong- 
ing to  the  occasion,  connected  as  it  is  with  the  anniversary  of  our 
national  independence.  I  must  pass  over,  altogether,  every  thing 
that  concerns  the  trade  and  business  of  our  early  days,  —  the 
manners,  customs,  dress,  furniture,  houses,  style  of  living,  of  our 
early  inhabitants  ;  even  of  their  early  uniform  and  steady  love  of 
popular  liberty  and  free  institutions. 

I  could  state  from  our  records  the  votes  and  proceedings,  show- 
ing how  we  were  gradually  prepared  for  the  bold  measure  of 
fourth  of  Jul}',  1776,  —  how  hearty  and  unanimous  we  were  in 
our  obedience  to  the  measures  recommended  by  our  wise  men, 
though  injurious  to  our  particular  interests; — such  as  the  non- 
importation and  non-consumption  of  articles  before  deemed  nec- 
essaries of  life;  —  how  we  preferred  to  put  off  the  citizen,  and 
put  on  the  soldier ;  —  how  cheerfully  we  bore  the  dangers  and 
liardships  of  the  war,  contracting  heavy  debts  to  raise  men  and 
supplies  for  the  army. 

If  we  were  not  foremost,  there  were  none  Ijefore  us  in  our  zeal 
for  the  early  declaration  and  steady  maintenance  of  the  independ- 
ence of  our  countr}'.  And  when,  at  the  close  of  the  contest,  and 
under  an  unexampled  pressure  of  burthens,  others  were  heard  to 
murmur  and  complain,  we  were  among  those  who  quietly  and 
peaceably  submitted  to  the  rule  of  law.  Instead  of  joining  in  the 
clamor  for  paper  money  and  tender  laws,  we  remonstrated  against 
them. 

All  these  things,  and  many  more  of  the  kind,  are  they  not 
wiitten  in  the   books  of    our  records?  which,   if   time  permitted, 


HISTORY  OF  EXETEIi.  469 

I  would  gladly  recite  to  you  on  this  occasion.  In  what  regards 
schools  and  education,  we  have  at  all  times  aimed,  as  in  all  things 
else,  at  the  useful  rather  than  the  showy. 

The  public  service  of  the  day  is  now  drawing  to  a  close.  We 
have  spent  the  last  hour  sitting  in  judgment  on  our  ancestors  and 
predecessors,  and  we  have  found  much  to  commend  and  little  to 
condemn.  I  hope  their  shades  now  look  down  upon  us  and  smile 
their  approbation  of  the  doings  of  the  day.  What  will  be  the 
judgment  of  our  posterity  pronounced  one  hundred  years  hence 
upon  us  and  our  deeds? 

This  meeting  is  now  adjourned,  to  meet  here  fourth  of  July, 
1938.  If  the  progress  of  the  future  shall  keep  pace  with  the  past, 
the  meeting  will  then  be  holden  in  a  temple, —  I  hope  a  Christian 
one, —  more  lofty  and  spacious  than  this,  as  much  more  as  this 
exceeds  the  first  Exeter  church  of  twenty  feet  square.  The  glory 
of  the  second  temple  will,  doubtless,  exceed  that  of  the  first;  but 
the  real  greatness  of  a  people  depends  little  on  the  grandeur  of 
their  temples,  or  on  the  glory  of  external  things,  but  on  the  culture 
of  the  mind,  and  the  purity  and  graces  of  the  heart. 

We  have  this  day  passed  the  dividing  line  between  ancestor  and 
posterity,  and  must,  henceforth,  take  our  places  with  the  people 
of  the  third  century.  Why  then  should  not  we  rejoice,  if  the 
impartial  judgment  of  the  next  centennial  should  award  the  prize 
of  superior  learning,  more  cultivated  mind,  and  better  taste  in  the 
fine  arts,  to  the  third  century. 

Let  us,  then,  in  this  our  new  character,  do  all  we  can,  that  the 
superiority  shall  then  be  equally  manifest  in  religion,  virtue  and 
moral  worth. 


GENEALOGICAL. 


u 


FAMILY  REGISTERS. 


FROM  THE  EXETER  RECORDS. 

Benjamin   Abbot,   b.  Andover,  Mass.,  17    Sept.    1762,    md.  1    Nov.    1791 
Hannah  Tracy  Emery,  b.  Exeter  7  March  1771. 
Then-  child,  John  Emery,  b.  6  Aug.  1793. 
Mrs.  Hannah  Tracy  Abbot  d.  6  Dec.  1793. 

Benjamin  Abbot  md.  (2d)  1  ]\Iav  1798  Mary  Perkins,  b.   Boston  24  May 
1769. 

Their  children,  Mary  Perkins,  b.  14  Feb.  1799 ;  d.  23  June  1802. 
Elizabeth,  b.  14  Nov.  1801. 
Charles  Benjamin,  b.  19  Jan.  1805. 

Caleb  G.  Adams,  b.  8  Jan.  1752,    md.  8  Dec.  1774  Mary  Folsom,  dau.  of 
Nathaniel  Folsom,  b.  25  Aug.  1751. 
Their  children,  Dolly,  b  7  Jan.  1776;  d.  21  Jan.  1810. 
Nathaniel  Folsom,  b.  19  March  1782. 

Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Adams. 

Their  childi-en,  William  Parker,  b.  Exeter  10  Oct.  1784;  d.  18  Feb.  1827. 
Sarah,  b.  Durham  21  Nov.  1785;  d.  22  Sept.  1842. 
Samuel  Winborn,  b.  Durham  31  Oct.  1787;  d.  1  Jan.  1831. 
Eliza,   b.  Durham    7    July  1789;    d.  Portsmouth   4  Aug. 

1802. 
Jeremiah  Parker,   b.  Durham    10  May    1791  ;  d.   Exeter 

30  June  1822. 
Mary  Sewall,  b.  Durham  21  Dec.  1794;  d.  Exeter  1  June 

1817. 
Anna  Matilda,  b.  Durham  30  June  179G. 
Catharine   P.,   b.   Durham   31   Aug.    1798;    d.  Exeter  4 

March  1804. 
John,   b.    Portsmouth   21    Nov.  1800;    d.  Portsmouth,  17 

May  1802. 
Nathaniel  Sheafe,  b.  Exeter  28  Nov.  1802 ;  d.  Exeter  14 

Sept.  1849. 

3 


4  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Col.  Samuel  Adams  d.  Portsmouth  of  yellow  fever  2  Aug.  1802. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Adams  d.  Boston  23  March  184j. 

Xathaniel  Bartlett,  Elizabeth  Dennet ;  md.  23  Oct.  1739. 
Their  children,  Elizabeth,  b.  7  Feb.  1741. 

Dorothy,  b.  19  April  1742  ;  d.  April  1804  [wife  of  Eliph- 

alet  Hale]  . 
Mary,  b.  17  Jan.  1743-4. 
Nathaniel,  b.  9  Dec.  174.5. 
Catharine,  b.  21  Jan.  1748. 
Mary,  b.  22  Oct.  1749.  ' 

Priscilla,  b.  IG  June  1751. 

John  Bean. 

His  children,  John,  b.  15  Aug.  1661;  d.  18  INIay  1666. 
Daniel,  b.  23  March  1662-3. 
Samuel,  b.  23  March  1665-6. 
John,  b.  13  Oct.  1668. 
Margaret,  b.  27  Oct.  1670. 
James,  b.  17  Dec.  1672. 
Jeremy,  b.  20  April  1675. 
Elizabeth,  b.  24  Sept.  1678. 

Shackford  Sewards  Bennet,  Mehitable  Giddingc ;  md.  18  Dec.  1788. 
Their  child,  Charles,  b.  20  March  1790. 

Amos  Blanchard's  children  b.  in  Exeter. 
Maria,  b.  23  Jan.  1805. 
Luther,  b.  12  March  1807. 

Joseph  Boardman.  Lydia  Oilman;  md.  16  Sept.  1823. 
Their  children,  Lucy  Maria,  b.  29  July  1824. 

Juliana  G.,  b.  6  Feb.  i827. 
Mrs.  Lydia  L.  Boardman,  wife  of  Joseph  Boardman,  d.  2  Feb.  1832. 

Thomas  Bond    md.  23  May  1762   Mary  Ciiddinge,  dau.  of  Zebulon  and 
Deborah  Giddinge. 
Their  children,  Deborah,  b.  2  July  1764. 
Abigail,  b.  18  Dec.  1765. 
Mary,  b.  10  May  1768. 
Widow  Mary  Bond  d.  28  June  1790,  in  her  56th  year. 

Francis  Bowden,  son  of  Michael  Bowden  of  Lynn,    md.   18  Feb.    1734-5 
Elizabeth  Webster  of  Exeter,  dau.  of  Thomas  and  Deborah  Webster. 
Their  children,  Deborah,  b.  7  Dec.  1735. 
Rebecca,  b.  28  Sept.  1 740. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  5 

Samuel  Brooks,  son  of  Samuel  Brooks  of  Medford,  md.  27  June  1751  Eliz- 
abeth   Pike,    dau.    of  "William  and  Judith  Pike,  late  of  Exeter,  said 
William  being  son  of  Joseph  Pike,  late  of  Barnstaple,  Eng. 
Their  children,  Oliver  Pike,  b.  16  Feb.  1751-2  ;  d.  8  June  1755. 
Samuel,  b.  23  Oct.  1753;  d.  Natchez  1818. 
Joseph,  b.  17  April  1755;  d.  1  Aug.  1775. 
Elizabeth,  b.  17  Jan.  1760;  d.  19  Feb.  1760. 
Elizabeth,  b.  3  Dec.  1761. 
AVilliam,  b.  20  Jan.  1764. 
Mary,  b.  23  Dec.  1767. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Brooks  d.  7  March  1794. 
Samuel  Brooks  md.  (2d)  Tirzah  James,  dau.  of  Dudley  James. 
Their  children,  Oliver,  b.  9  Aug.  1796. 

James  Emery,  b.  28  July  1799. 
Elizabeth,  b".  27  June  lisOl. 

Samuel  Brooks  d.  March  1807. 

Mrs.  Tirzah  Brooks  d.  Philadelphia  25  Jan.  1831,  aged  76. 

Samuel  Brooks,  Jr.,  son  of  Samuel  and  EHzabeth  Brooks,  md.  14  Dec.  1779 
Mary  Giddinge,  dau.  of  John  and  Mehitable  Giddinge. 
Their  children,  Dolly,  b.  25  June  1781. 
Betsey,  b.  1  April  1783. 

Isaiah  S.  Brown,  b.  Hampton  Falls,  md.  1  April  1842  Elizabeth  Ann  Fuller. 
Their  childi-en,  William  H.,  b.  6  Feb.  1843  ;  d.  16  Sept.  1843. 
Abby  J.,  b.  10  March  1844. 

John  Burley. 

His  children,  Mary,  b.  19  Oct.  1715. 
John,  b.  8  Dec.  1717. 
Jacob,  b.  23  Jan.  1720. 

James  Burleigh  of  Ipswich  md.  14  Feb.  1780  Susanna  Swasey  of  Exeter. 
Their  children,  James,  b.  7  Sept.  1784. 

Susanna,  b.  15  Feb.  1789. 
Rufus,  b.  21  March  1791 ;  d.  26  March  1809. 
William,  b.  24  April  1794;  d.  24  Aug.  1844. 
Selina,  b.  17  Dec.  1796. 
Harriet,  b.  14  July  1798. 
James  Burleigh  d.  very  suddenly  3  April  1812, 

Lieut.  Jonathan  Cass  md.  20  Dec.  1781   Mary  Gilman,  dau.  of  Theophilus 
and  Deborah  Gilman. 
Their  chilcb-en,  Lewis,  b.  9  Oct.  1827. 

Deborah  Webster,  b.  16  April  1784. 

George,  b.  25  Jan.  1786  ;  d.  1873. 

Charles  Lee,  b,  15  Aug.  1787 ;  d.  Ohio  4  Jan.  1842. 


6  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Polly,  b.  12  Aui?.  1788. 

Johii  Jay,  b.  28  Feb.  1791 ;  d.  29  April  1792. 

Samuel  Chamberlain,  son  of  John,  of  Chaiiestown,  md.  30  Sept.  1783  Mary 
Tilton  of  Exeter. 
Their  children,  Samuel  Phillips,  b.  24  Jan.  1786;  d.  Portsmouth  8  Feb. 
1822. 
Mary  Parker,  b.  15  Feb.  1788;  d.  10  March  1817  [wife  of 

Rev.  Mr.  Perry  of  Bradford]. 
Jacob  Tilton,  b.  6  Aug.  1791 ;  d.  at  sea. 
William  Frederick  Rowland,  b.  29April  1797. 
Elizabeth  Dorothy,  b.  3  Jan.  1800. 
Margaret  Tilton,  "b.  4  Dec.  1801  ;  d.  20  Jan.  1821. 
Frances  Groves,  b.  23  April  1804. 
Julia  Ann,  b.  4  Nov.  1806. 
Edward  Groves,  b.  14  Nov.  1808. 
Henry  Phillips,  b.  4  Sept.  1811. 

Mrs.  Mary  Chamberlain  d.  22  April  1826. 

Frederick  Charlton  (Carlton),  son  of  Theodore  Charlton  and  Deborah,  was  b. 
7  Oct.  1704;  d.  2  Feb.  1766. 

John  Clark. 

His  children,  Solomon,  b.  19  Feb.  1672. 
Ichabod,  b.  25  Dec.  1674. 
Mary,  b.  18  June,  1678. 

The  Rev.  John   Clark,  minister  of  Exeter,   md.   19  June   1694    Elizabeth 
Woodbridge,  dan.  of  Rev.  Benjamin  AVoodbridge. 
Their  childi-en,  Benjamin,  b.  June  1695. 

Nathaniel,  b.  19  Dec.  1697. 
Deborah,  b.  3  Nov.  1699. 
Ward,  b.  12  Dec.  1703. 
The  Rev.  John  Clark  d.  25  July  1705,  aged  35. 

Samuel  B.  Clarke,  Philena  F.  Robinson ;  md.  27  Jan.  1847. 
Their  childi-en,  Frank  Bartlett,  b.  23  Nov.  1847. 
Elizabeth  F.,  b.  11  Jan.  1849. 

William    Henry  Clark,  son  of  Moses  Clark  and  grandson  of  Dea.   Moses 
Clark,  md.  16  Feb.  1825  Sarah  Hilton,  dau.  of  Col.  Richard  Hilton  of 
Newmarket. 
Their  children,  Charles  Edwin,  b.  22  Nov.  1825. 
William  A.,  b.  30  Sept.  1827. 
John  M.,  b.  4  Jan.  1830. 
George  W.,  b.  27  Jan.  1832. 
Edward  li.,  b.  31  March  1834. 
Martha  J.,  b.  27  Jan.  1837. 


IIISTOriY  OF  EXETER.  7 

Sarah  E.,  h,  28  March  1S40. 
James  A.,  b.  23  March  1843. 

Eliphalet  Coffin  mcl.  11   Feb.  1710  Judith  Noyes,  widow  of  Parker  Noyes 
and  dau.  of  James  Coffin  of  XeM'bury. 
Their  chilcken,  Abigail,  b.  13  Nov.  1711. 
Peter,  b.  8  Dec.  1713. 
Judith,  b.  22  Dec.  1717. 
Eliphalet,  b.  o  Nov.  1719 ;  d.  3  May  1722. 
Deborah,  b.  11  Feb.  1720-1;  d.  25  Sept.  1721. 
Capt.  Eliphalet  Coffin  d.  16  Aug.  1736. 

Jeremiah  Connor,  Anne  Gove  ;  md.  3  July  1696. 

Their  children,  Jeremiah,  b.  18  April  1697 ;  d.  April  1722. 

Jonathan,  b.  5  Dec.  1699. 

Philip,  b.  3  March  1701-2. 

Samuel,  b.  3  May  1704. 

Hannah,  b.  20  Sept.  1706. 

Anne,  1).  30  March  1709. 

Benjamin,  b.  7  Sept.  1711. 
Anne,  wife  of  Jeremiah  Connor,  d.  12  Feb.  1722-3. 

Cornelius  Connor. 

His  child,  Moses,  b.  6  Dec.  1707. 

Jonathan  Connor,  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Ann  Connor,  b.  5  Dec.  1699,  md.  23 
Jan.  1723-4  Mehitabel,  dau.  of  John  and  ^lehitabel  Thing,  b.  19  July 
1706. 
Their  chikben,  Anne,  b.  15  Sept.  1724. 

Mehitabel,  b.  5  Dec.  1726  ;  d.  30  Aug.  1736. 

Jeremiah,  b.  8  Feb.  1730-1. 

Jonathan,  b.  14  Oct.  1737. 

Anne,  b.  10  Dec.  1739. 

Mehitabel,  b.  27  July  1742. 

John  Thing,  b.  16  July  1745. 

Philip  Connor,  Maria  Dudley;  md.  14  May  1729. 
Their  children,  Maria,  b.  22  Sept.  1731. 
Philip,  b.  25  Sept.  1733. 
Joseph,  b.  16  Feb.  1735. 
Joshua,  b.  18  Aug.  1743. 

Samuel  Connor,  b.   3  May  1704,  md.  26   May  1726  Sarah  Oilman,  b.  18 
Dec.  1708. 
Their  children,  Maria,  b.  12  May  1728. 

Anna,  b.  2  Nov.  1730;  d.  22  Aug.  1742. 
Samuel,  b.  2  April  1733. 


8  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Jeremiah,  b.  18  Nov.  1736. 

Joshua,  b.  2  Auo:.  1738;  d.  16  Aug.  1742. 

Sarah,  b.  5  Dec.  1741;  d.  22  Aug.  1742. 

Eliphalet,  b.  14   Aug.  1743. 

Joseph,  b.  7  Aug.  1746. 

Mary,  b.  3  Oct.  17.50. 

Benjamin  Conner,  Abigail  Bartlett;  md.  25  June  1734. 
Their  children,  Abigail,  b.  4  Feb.  1736. 

Jeremiah,  b.  26  March  1739. 

Nathaniel,  b.  8  April  1742.  ! 

Abigail,  b.  31  May  1744. 

Anne,  b.  18  March  1746. 

Benjamin,  b.  28  March  1748. 

Mary,  b.  25  Jan.  1750. 

Joseph  Bartlett.  b.  15  Oct.  1752. 
Benjamin  Conner  md.  (2d)  Mary  Leavitt,  widow  of  Jeremiah  Leavitt. 
Their  children,  Huldah,  b.  4  Dec.  1760. 

Ephraim,  b.  5  Feb.  1763. 

Nathaniel,  b. 

Benjamin  Conner  d.  18  Oct.  1811,  aged  101  yrs.  1  mo. 
Mrs.  Mary  Conner  d.  20  March  1820,  aged  93  yrs.  6  mos. 

Jeremiah  Conner,  son  of  Jonathan  and  Mehitable  Conner,  md.  1   Sept.  1754 
Hannah  Sanborn,  dau.  of  Jabal  and  Abiah  Sanborn, 
Their  children,  Mary,  b.  30  May  1755. 

Dudley,  b.  29  Nov.  1756. 

Jonathan  Conner,  Jr.,  Mary  Jewett;  md.  10  ]March  1765. 

Their  children,  Jesse,  b.  18  Dec.  1765;  d.  Parsonsfield,  Me.,  8  Jan.  1841. 

Ehzabeth,  b.  14  Aug.  1770;  d.  25  Sept.  1770. 

Daniel,  b.  17  Aug.  1771 ;  d.  23  Sept.  1863. 

Nathaniel,  b.  16  Oct.  1773;  d.  5  July  1849. 

Jedediah,  b.  20  Oct.  1775;  d.  28  Jan.  1838. 

Mary,  b.  11  Jan.  1778. 

Jonathan,  b.  29  April  1780;  d.  7  Sept.  1780. 

Eunice,  b.  24  May  1782;  d.  22  July  1867. 
Mrs.  Marv  Conner,  wife  of  Jonathan,  d.  25  Nov.  1816. 
Jonathan  Conner  d.  13  Nov.  1820,  aged  83. 

Nathaniel  Conner  and  Tirzah  (Lyford)  Conner. 

Their  children,  Charles,  b.  17  May  1798;  d.  29  July  1804. 
Mary  Ann,  b.  17  Feb.  1800. 
Oliver  W.,  b.  25  Oct.  1801 ;  d.  17  April  1840. 
John  L.,  b.  16  Aug.  1803 ;  d.  24  Jan.  1847. 
'      Charles,  b.  30  Nov.  1805. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  9 

William,  b.  23  Feb.  1808. 

Jewett,  b.  21  March  1810;  d.  27  July  1810. 

Thomas,  b.  12  Aug.  1812. 

Alfred,  b.  12  Aug.  1814. 

Freeman,  b.  11  May  1816;  d.  1  Jan.  1817. 

Nathaniel,  b.  13  May  1818;  d.  24  Sept.  1818. 
Mrs.  Tirzah  Conner  d.  28  July  1828,  aged  53  yrs.  4  mos. 
Nathaniel  Conner  md.  (2d)  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Palmer  22  Jan.  1833. 
Their  child.  Freeman,  b.  22  jNIarch  1836. 
Nathaniel  Conner  d.  ;5  July  1849,  aged  76  years. 

Charles  Conner,  b.  30  Nov.  180o,  md  27  Aug.  1832  Mary  Taylor  Oilman,  b. 
26  May  1806. 
Their  children,  Charles  Oilman,  b.  6  July  1833. 

Edward  Joseph,  b.  11  Aug.  183o  ;  d.  lo  Aug.  1868. 
p:iizabeth  Oilman,  b.  13  Jan.  1838  ;  d.  o  Sept.  1838. 
William  Thomas,  b.  14  Feb.  1840;  d.  1  Aug.  1841. 
])aniel  Oilman,  b.  21  Jan.  1842. 
Mary  Elizabeth,  b.  24  Aug.  184o. 

Joseph  Cram,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Martha  Cram,  md.  7  June  1780  Ann 
Brown,  dau.  of  Nathan  and  Ann  Brown  of  Hampton  Falls. 
Their  children,  Benjamin,  b.  10  March  1781. 
Jacob,  b.  9  Jan.  1783. 
Anne,  b.  8  March  1787. 
Sarah,  b.  18  Aug.  1790. 

Robert   Cross  of  Portland  md.  5  Oct.  1807    Caroline  Tilton,  dau.  of  ])r. 
Joseph  Tilton. 

•    Their  child,  Caroline  Matilda,  b.  5  Aug.  1808  ;  d.  16  Dec.  1808. 

Isaac  Currier  md.  10  April  1760  Elizabeth  Robinson,  dau.  of  Ephraim  and 
Mary  Robinson. 

Their  children,  Isaac,  b.  10  Nov.  1760. 
Ephraim,  b.  9  Sept.  1762. 

Rufus  E.  Cutler,  son  of  Tobias  Cutler,  b.  2  March  1797,  md.  12  March  1825 
Anna  Cilley,  b.  2  Oct.  1796. 

Their  children,  Sarah  A.,  b.  22  June  1827  ;  d.  6  Alay  1836. 
Harriet  F.,  b.  26  Feb.  1828. 
Rufus  E.,  b.  10  March  1830. 
John  O.,  b.  10  May  1832. 
Eliza  A.  C,  b.  4  Sept.  1834. 

♦ 
William  B.  Dana  and  Margaret  Ann  Dana. 
Their  child,  Elizabeth  Ann,  b.  13  Aug.  1827. 


10  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

William  Davis  and  Elizabeth  Davis. 

Their  children,  William  Putnam,  b.  11  Sept.  1823. 
Abigail  Bartlett,  b.  25  May  1825. 

Dr.  Thomas  Dean  md.  2  Oct.  1718  Deborah  Clark,  dau.  of  Rev.  John  Clark. 
Their  children,  John,  b.  5  Sept.  1719. 
Jane,  b.  20  June  1721. 
Thomas,  b.  23  Dec.  1723. 
Elizabeth,  b.  28  Dec.  1725. 
Deborah,  b.  15  June  1728;  d.  G  Sept.  1735. 
Mary,  b.  17  July  1731. 
Abigail,  b. 

Col.  John  Dennet  of  Portsmouth  md.  3  Feb.  1798  Elizabeth  Lamson,  dau. 
of  Dr.  John  Lamson  of  Exeter. 
Their  childi-en,  Elizabeth,  b.  4  Feb.  1799. 

John  Sherburne,  b.  25  June  1800. 

Jabez  Dodge,  son  of  Benjamin  Dodge  of  Beverly,  b.  15  Jan.  1747,  md.  15 
Aug.  1771  Lydia  Philbrick,  dau.  of  Benjamin  Philbrick. 
Their  children,  Hannah,  b.  22  Aug.  1772 ;  d.  7  April  1787. 

Benjamin,  b.  1  May  1774. 

Joseph,  b.  9  May  1776. 

Jabez,  b.  10  June  1778;  d.  28  Jan.  1803. 

Lydia,  b.  31  Dec.  1780 ;  d.  7  Aug.  1847. 

Samuel,  b.  26  Feb.  1783. 

Elizabeth,  b.  28  April  1785. 

Hannah,  b.  4  Aug.  1787  ;  d.  28  Dec.  1787. 

Anne,  b.  16  May  1789. 

John,  b.  30  Nov.  1791  ;  d.  31  Jan.  1865. 

Isaac,  b.  13  April  1794. 
Mr.  Jabez  Dodge  d.  11  April  1806. 

John  Dodge,  b.  Exeter  30  Nov.  1791,  md.  1  Sept.  1816  Lydia  Gerrish,  b. 
Portsmouth  20  Aug.  1793. 
Their  children,  Caroline  G.,  b.  11  July  1817;  d.  24  July  1842. 
Frances  M.,  b.  22  Sept.  1819. 
Lydia,  b.  4  Jan.  1822. 
Harriet,  b.  10  May  1824. 
Sarah  E.,  b.  5  June  1827. 
Alexander,  b.  16  Feb.  1830;  d.  27  Oct.  1830. 
Elizabeth  Hurd,  b.  18  Dec.  1834  ;  d.  8  April  1836. 

Christian  Dolhoof  (DoUoff). 

His  children,  Mary,  b.  17  Sept.  1667. 
John,  b.  17  Feb.  1668-9. 
James,  b.  25  Dec.  1670. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  H 


Puchavd  Dolloflf. 

His  childi-en,  Sarah,  b.  10  Jan.  1702. 

Margaret,  b.  18  :March  1704. 
Abigail,  b.  26  Feb.  1706. 
John,  b.  20  April  170.S. 
Jonathan,  b.  17  Oct.  1710. 

Samuel  DoUoff. 

His  children,  Samuel,  b.  1  Feb.  1703. 

Elizabeth,  b.  1  March  1706. 

Abner  DoUoff  and  Miriam  DoUoff. 

Their  chUdren,  Mercy,  b.  6  Dec.  17^2,  N.  S. 
Richard,  b.  2  Jan.  1755. 
David,  b.  19  Jan.  1757. 
Phineas,  b.  11  April  1759. 

Jeremiah  Dow,  b.  Salem,  N.  H.,  9  April  1773,  md.  27  Xov.  1797  Hannah 
Parker,  b.  Bradford,  Mass.,  IS  Oct.  1776. 
Their  children,  Ednah  Parker,  b.  18  Jan.  1799. 

Retire  Parker,  b.  10  March  1801. 
Jeremiah,  b.  5  Feb.  1803. 
EUzabeth,  b.  11  Sept.  1806. 
Hannah  Parker,  b.  1  Nov.  1808. 
Mary  Frances,  b. 

Jeremiah  Dow  d.  13  Oct.  1847. 

Stephen  Dudley,  Sarah  Oilman  ;  md.  24  Dec.  1684. 
Their  children,  Samuel,  b.  19  Dec.  1685. 

Stephen,  b.  10  :March  1687-8. 
James,  b.  11  June  1690. 
John,  b.  4  Oct.  1692. 
Nicholas,  b.  27  Aug.  1694. 
Joanna,  b.  3  May  1697. 
Treworthy,  b. 

Samuel  Dudley,  Hannah  Colcord ;  md.  24  Nov.  1709. 

Their  children,  John,  b.  22  June  1711. 

Samuel,  b.  9  Feb.  1713-14. 
Hannah,  b.  9  April  1716. 
Samuel,  b.  26  Aug.  1718. 

Joseph  Dudley,  Merriah  Oilman  ;  md.  26  Nov.  1724. 
Their  child,  Sarah,  b.  25  Sept.  1725 ;  d.  30  Aug.  1742. 

Ezra  S.  Durgin  of  Greenland  md.  7  Dec.  1837  Ruth  Stevenson  of  Saco,  Me. 
Their  children,  Mary  E.,  b.  Exeter  7  Nov.  1839. 

William  E.,  b.  Exeter  1  Oct.  1841. 


12  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Albert  A.,  b.  Exeter  13  June  1844 ;  d.  19  Jan.  1845. 
Ednah  J.,  b.  Exeter  10  Dec.  1845. 

Eleazer  Elkins. 

His  children,  John,  b.  3  Dec.  1674. 

Samuel,  b.  27  June  1677. 

Epes  Ellery,  b.  Gloucester,  Mass.,  29  Oct.  1769,  md.  11  Sept.  1794  Anna 
Odell,  b.  27  Feb.  1771  ;  moved  to  Exeter  in  the  year  1800. 
Their  children,  Anna  Mary,  b.  Gloucester  24  March  1796. 
Epes,  b.  Gloucester  26  March  1800. 
James,  b.  Exeter  26  June  1803.  ; 
George,  b.  Exeter  29  July  1804. 
David  Haraden,  b.  Exeter  11  Sept.  1805. 
Nathaniel,  b.  Exeter  18  Jan.  1807. 
William  Parsons,  b.  Exeter  1  Dec.  1809. 
Edward  Turner,  b.  Exeter  16  June  1812  ;  d.  11  March  1813. 

Noah  Emery,  b.  10  Nov.  1748,  md.  5  Dec.  1771  Jane  Hale. 
Their  children,  Mary,  b.'24  Sept.  1772;  d.  20  Sept.  1856. 
Elizabeth,  b.  15  Oct.  1774. 
Nicholas,  b.  4  Sept.  1776. 
John,  b.  29  Oct.  1780. 
Noah,  b.  30  Dec.  1782;  d.  at  sea  1813. 
Jane,  b.  19  Oct.  1788  ;  d.  19  June  1802. 
Betsy  Phillips,  b.  15  Aug.  1794. 

Noah  Emery  d.  6  Jan.  1817. 
Mrs.  Jane  Emery  d.  19  June  1813. 

Jonathan  Flood,  Mary  Foy ;  md. 

Their  children,  Joseph,  b.  15  Aug.  1768. 
William,  b.  2  Oct.  1773. 

Mary  Foulsam,  dau.  of  Samuel  Foulsam,  b.  27  Sept.  1664. 

JohnFoulsam  d.  27  Dec.  1681. 

Abigail  Foulsam,  dau.  of  John  Foulsam,  b.  23  Dec.  1676. 

Samuel  Foulsam,  son  of  Nathaniel  Foulsam,  b.  18  Aug.  1679. 
Peter  Foulsam,  Catherine  Oilman  ;  md. 
Their  children,  Susanna,  b.  27  Sept.  1704. 

Elizabeth,  b.  20  March  1706-7. 

John,  b.  14  March  1708-9. 

James,  b.  16  Oct.  1711. 

Peter,  b.  27  July  1714. 

Catherine,  b.  24  Jan.  1716-17. 

Richard  Calley  and  Catherine,  Relict  of  Peter  Folsom,  md. 

Daniel  Folsom. 

His  children,  Daniel,  b.  27  Aug.  1739. 
Ann,  b.  2  April  1741. 
Abigail,  b.  27   Feb.  1742-3. 


HISTOEY  OF  EXETER.  13 

Josiah  Folsom,  Martha  Gold  ;  md.  May  1754. 
Their  children,  Jemima,  b.  7  March  1755, 
Martha,  b.  7  Dec.  1756. 
Mary,  b.  17  March  1763. 
Josiah,  b.  1  June  1765. 
Dudley,  b.  15  Dec.  1767. 
John,  b.  26  June  1770. 
Deborah,  b.  12  May  1772. 
Josiah  Folsom,  b.  25  Sept.  1725  ;  d.  27  July  1820. 

James  Folsom,  Elizabeth  "Webster;  md.  Dec.  1763. 
Their  children,  James,  b.  12  Aug.  1765. 

pjlizabeth,  b.  5  March  1767. 

Thomas,  b.  11  May  1769. 

Nathaniel,  b.  2  April  1771. 

Peter,  b.  22  Feb.  1775 ;  d.  June  1817. 

Polly,  b.  12  July  1776. 

John,  b.  5  Nov.  1779. 

Samuel  Folsom,  Elizabeth  Emery;  md.  30  April  1780. 
Their  children,  Anne,  b.  4  Feb.  1781. 

Samuel,  b.  7  June  1783. 

Betsy,  b.  26  March  1785. 

Joanna,  b.  25  June  1787. 
Samuel  Folsom  d.  22  May  1790. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Folsom  d.  Sept.  1805. 

James  Folsom,  b.  22  July  1756,  md.  2  Dec.  1784  Mary  Folsom,  b.  17  March 
1763. 
Their  children,  James,  b.  24  Nov.  1785. 
Josiah,  b.  2  March  1787. 
Mary,  b.  13  Feb.  1789. 
LydiaB.,  b.  30  April  1791. 
Martha  N.,  b.  23  July  1793. 
Sarah  R.,  b.  12  Aug.  1795. 
Frances,  b.  12  Feb.  1798. 
Peter  G.,  b.  1  Nov.  1799. 
Nancy  Y.,  b.  16  March  1802. 
Nicholas  D.,  b.  10  June  1805. 
Lavina,  b.  30  March  1808. 

James  Folsom,  Sarah  Gilman  ;  md. 

Their  children,  Sophia,  b.  26  Feb.  1787. 

Joseph  Gilman,  b.  7  Dec.  1788  j  d.  Sept.  1813. 
Sarah,  b.  1  Nov.  1790. 
Henry,  b.  5  Oct.  1792. 
Charles,  b.  24  Dec.  1794. 
Anne,  b.  12  Feb.  1797. 


14  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Mary  Oilman,  b.  July  1799. 
William,  b.  12  July  isoS. 
Mrs.  Sarah  Folsom  d.  11  July  1805. 

Josiah  Folsom,  b.  2   March    1787,  md.  11    Oct.  1812   Mary  Woodruff,  b. 
Feb.  1783. 
Their  child,  Mary  W.,  b.  9  Oct.  1813. 
Mrs.  Mary  Folsom  d.  22  March  1814. 
Josiah  Folsom  md.  22  May  1825  Mary  James,  b.  12  Jan.  1798. 
Their  childi-en,  Elizabeth  S.,  b.  14  May  1826.      j 
Josiah  J.,  b.  1  Aug.  1827. 
Ebenezer,  b.  25  Oct.  1828. 
Mary,  wife  of  Josiah,  d.  12  April  1847. 

Henry"  F.  French  md.  Chester  9  Oct.  1838  Anne  Richardson,  dau.   of  Ch. 
Jus.  William  ]M.  Richardson. 
Their  chikken,  Harriette  Van  Mater,  b.  Chester  29  Sept.  1839. 

William  Merchant  Richardson,  b.  Exeter  1  Oct.  1843. 
Sarah  Flagg,  b.  Exeter  14  Aug.  1846. 
Daniel  Chester,  b.  Exeter  20  April  1850. 
Mrs  Anne  R.  French  d.  Exeter  29  Aug.  1856. 


••to- 


John  George,  Elizabeth  Towle ;  md.  24  Sept.  1734. 
Their  children,  Sarah,  b.  16  Oct.  1736. 
Josiah,  b.  19  Sept.  1738. 
John,  b.  23  March  1739-40. 
Olive,  b.  27  Feb.  1741-2. 

Zebulon  Giddinge    md.  12   Oct.  1724   Deborah  Webster,  dau.  of  Thomas 
Webster.  ,      n  ^ 

Their  children,  Pcrnal,  b.  28  Sept.  1725.     ■  '       ^^'f^ - 
John,  b.  11  Sept.  1728. 
Abigail,  b.  30  Oct.  1729;  md.  10  Sept.  1756  Thilip,  son 

of  John  Babson. 
Zebulon,  b.  7  Feb.  1732-3  ;  d.  9  March  1759. 
Mary,  b.  23  Oct.  1734. 
Eliphalet,  b.  17  Sept.  1736. 
George,  b.  17  July  1738. 
Nathaniel,  b.  26  Dec.  1744. 
Deborah,  b.  2  Feb.  1746-7. 
Mrs.  Deborah  Giddinge  d.  2  Feb.  1767,  aged  64  yrs.  2  mos.  22  days. 
Zebulon  Giddinge  md.   (2d)  8  May   1773  Mrs.   Joanna  Cottle,  Avidow  of 
Joseph  Cottle  of  Newburyport.  She  d.  21  July  1773,  aged  62  yrs.  5  mos. 
Zebulon  Giddinge  d.  30  May  1789,  aged  86  yrs.  20  days. 

John  Giddinge,  Mehetabel  Oilman  ;  md.  20  Nov.  1751. 
Their  children,  ]Mary,  b.  13  July  1752. 

John,  b.  22  July  1754;  d.  12  June  1798. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  15 

Dorothy,  b.  15  Oct.  1758. 
Mehetabel,  b.  1  Feb.  1764. 
Deborah,  b.  30  May  1770. 

Zebulon  Giddinge,  son  of  Zebulon  and  Deborah  Giddingo,  md.  30  May  1754 
Lydia  Robinson,  dau.  of  Ephraim  and  Mary  Robinson. 
Their  children,  Lydia,  b.  14  Aug.  1755. 

Deborah,  b.  22  Dec.  1756. 
Zebulon,  b.  14  Oct.  1758. 
Zebulon  Giddinge  d.  at  Cape  Cod  9  March  1759,  aged  26  yrs.  19  days. 
Mrs.  Lydia  Giddinge  md.  (2d)  4  May  1761  Samuel  Oilman,  and  d.  Dec. 
1791.         [Oilman  Genealogy  says  4  July  1778.] 

Eliphalet  Giddinge,  Anne  Lovering ;  md.  18  Dec.  1760. 
Their  children,  Zebulon,  b.  26  Sept.  1761 ;  d.  March  1769. 

Nathaniel,  b.  6  Feb.  1765 ;  d.  March  1803. 

Pernal,  b.  23  Sept.  1768 ;  d.  Dec.  1768. 

Joseph,  b.  11  July  1770  ;  d.  10  Sept.  1770. 

Eliphalet,  b.  12  July  1773;  d.  19  Aug.  1773. 

Anne,  b.  15  Feb.  1775  ;  d.  15  Aug.  1776. 

Lucretia,  b.  10  Dec.  1776;  d.  13  May  1777. 

Anne,  b.  22  Oct.  1779;  d.  June  1811  [the  wife  of  Rev.  W. 
F.  Rowland]. 
Mrs.  Anne  Giddinge  d.  7  March  1809  in  the  70th  year  of  her  age. 
Eliphalet  Giddinge  md.  (2d)  16  Feb.  1812  widow  Ann  Lyford. 
Ann  Giddinge,  2d  wife  of  Eliphalet  Giddinge,  d.  12  Aug.  1818. 
Col.  Eliphalet  Giddinge  d.  30  June  1830,  aged  94  yrs. 

Nathaniel   Giddinge,  son   of  Zebulon  and  Deborah   Giddinge,  md.  6  Jan. 
1769  Mary  Elwell,  dau.  of  Zebulon  and  Lucy  Elwell. 
Their  children,  Abigail,  b.  17  Oct.  1769 ;  d.  June  1776. 
Lucy,  b.  22  Feb.  1774. 
Nathaniel,  b.  17  April  1784. 

Nathaniel  Giddinge,  son  of  Eliphalet  Giddinge,  md.  Anne  Folsom,  dau.  of 
Gen.  Nathaniel  Folsom. 
Their  children,  Eliphalet,  b.  13  Dec.  1783. 
Dolly,  b.  9  Jan.  1785. 
Polly,  b.  15  Aug.  1786. 
Harriet  Amelia,  b.  25  Feb.  1789. 

Nathaniel,  b.  1  Aug.  1791  ;  d.  June  1814  at  Newburyport, 
unmd. 
Mrs.  Anne  Giddinge  d.  27  April  1794,  aged  32  yrs.  8  mos.  27  days. 

Nathaniel  Giddinge  md.  (2d)  6  Nov.    1794  widow  Peggy  Warren. 
Their  chikken,  Ann  Elizabeth,  b.  20  Feb.  1796. 

Joseph,  b.  9  Feb.  1798  ;  d.  15  Aug.  1798. 


16  HISTOUY  OF  EXKTER. 

John  Gilmaii,  Elizabeth  Treworthy ;  md.  30  June  16.57. 
Their  children,  Mary,  b.  10  Sept.  l(3o8. 

James,  b.  6  Feb.  16o9-60. 

Elizabeth,  b.  16  Aug.  1661. 

John,  b.  6  Oct.  1663. 

Catherine,  b.  17  March  1664-J;  d.  2  Sept.  1684. 

Sarah,  b.  25  Feb.  1666-7. 

Lydia,  b.  12  Dec.  1668. 

Samuel,  b.  30  March  1671  ;  d.  Aug.  1691. 

Nicholas,  b.  26  Dec.  1672. 

Abigail,  b.  3  Nov.  1674.  ' 

John,  b.  19  Jan.  1676-7. 

Deborah  and  Joanna  (twins),  b.  30  April   1679;  Deborah 
d.  30  Sept.  1680;  Joanna  d.  24  Dec.  1720. 

Joseph,  b.  28  Oct.  1680. 

Alice,  b.  23  May  1683. 

Catherine,  b.  27  Nov.  1684, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Oilman,  wife  of  John  Oilman,  d.  8  Sept.  1719. 
John  Oilman  d.  24  July  1708. 

Joanna,  dau.  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Oilman,  was  twice  md.,  first  to  Capt. 
Robert  Coffin,  son  of  Peter  Coffin,  then  to  Henry  Dyer. 

Moses  Oilman. 

His  children,  Jeremy,  b.  31  Aug.  1660. 

Elizabeth,  b.  19  April  1663. 

James,  b.  31  May  1665. 

John,  b.  7  June  1668. 
Byley  Dudley  and  Elizabeth  Oilman  md.  25  Oct.  1682. 

Edward  Oilman. 

His  children,  Edward,  b.  20  Oct.  1675. 

Antipas,  b.  2  Feb.  1677  ;  d.  the  27th. 
Maverick,  b.  11  April  1681. 

Nicholas  Oilman,  Sarah  Clark  ;  md.  10  June  1697. 
Their  children,  Samuel,  b.  1  May  1698. 
John,  b.  24  Dec' 1699. 
Daniel,  b.  28  June  1702. 
Nathaniel,  b.  2  March  1704. 
Nicholas,  b.  18  Jan.  1707-8. 
Josiah,  b,  25  Feb.  1709-10. 
Sarah,  b.  25  June  1712. 
Treworthy,  b.  15  Oct.  1714. 
Elizabeth,  b.  5  Nov.  1717. 
Joanna,  b.  14  July  1720. 

John  Oilman,  Elizabeth  Coffin:  md.  5  June  1698. 
Their  childi'cn,  Joanna,  b.  20  Sept.  1700. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  17 

Elizabeth,  b.  5  Feb.  1701-2. 
Peter,  b.  6  Feb.  1704-5. 
Abigail,  b.  19  Aug.  1707. 
Robert,  b.  2  June  1710. 
John,  b.  5  Oct.  1712. 
Joanna,  b.  27  Oct.  1715. 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  Oilman,  d.  10  July  1720. 

Samuel  Oilman,  Abigail  Lord;  md.  2  Sejit.  1719. 

Their  children,  Samuel,  b.  20  May  1720. 
Nicholas,  b.  6  Oct.  1722. 
Robert,  b.  30  Aug.  1724. 
Sarah,  b.  1  Dec.  1725;  d.  8  Dec.  1725. 
Abigail,  b.  8  April  1727;  d.  4  Au^,  1729. 
Daniel,  b.  30  Jan.  1728;  d.  Nov.  1728. 
John,  b.  24  May  1730;  d.  24  Sept.  1735. 

John  Oilman,  Mary  Thing;  md.  8  Nov.  1720. 

Their  children,  John,  b.  23  Dec.  1721  ;  d.  March  1721-2. 
John,  b.  March  1722-3  ;  d.  April  1723. 

John  Oilman  d.  6  Dec.  1722. 

Peter  Oilman  md.  8  Dec.  1724  Mary  Oilman,  Relict  of  John  Oilman. 

Daniel  Oilman,  Mary  Lord;  md.  2  Sept.  1724. 
Their  children,  Mary,  b.  12  Nov.  1725. 

John,  b.  17  Sept.  1727. 

Daniel,  b.  18  Nov.  1729. 

Nicholas,  b.  21  Oct.  1731. 

Sommersby,  b.  1733. 
Mary  Oilman,  wife  of  Daniel,  d.  22  March  1735-6. 

John  Oilman,  Elizabeth  Hale;  md.  29  Dec.  1720. 
Their  children,  Nicholas,  b.  20  Jan.  1721-2. 
Samuel,  b.  20  April  1723. 
Sarah,  b.  23  July  1724. 
Nathaniel,  b.  18  June  1726. 

Nicholas  Oilman,  Mary  Thing;  md.  22  Oct.  1730. 
Their  children,  Bartholomew,  b.  26  Aug.  1731. 
Nicholas,  b.  13  June  1733. 
Tristram,  b.  24  Nov.  1735. 
Joseph,  b.  5  May  1738. 
Josiah,  b.  2  Sept.  1740;  d.  8  Feb.  1801. 
John,  b.  10  May  1742 ;  d.  8  June  1752. 
Mrs.  Mary  Oilman,  wife  of  Nicholas,  d.  22  Feb.  1789,  aged  76  yrs.  1  mo. 

9  days. 
2a 


18  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Daniel  Oilman,  Abigail  Sayer;  md.  23  Sept.  1736. 
Their  child,  Abigail,  b.  21  Sept.  1738. 

Nathaniel  Oilman,  Sarah  Emery;  md.  16  Sept.  1725. 
Their  children,  Tabitha,  b.  21  July  1726. 

Sarah,  b.  14  Feb.  1727-8  ;  d.  July  1729. 
Nathaniel,  b.  9  April  1730. 
Sarah,  b.  5  Sept.  1733 ;  d.  6  Jan.  1735-6. 
Elizabeth,  b.  14  Dec.  1735;  d.  1  Jan.  1735-6. 
Joanna,  b.  23  Aug.  1737. 

Treworthy  Oilman,  Susanna  LoAve  ;  md.  17  June  1736. 
Their  child,  Treworthy,  b.  23  May  1738. 

Josiah  Oilman,  Abigail  Coffin;  md.  2  Dec.  1731. 

Their  children,  Abigail,  b.  12  Aug.  1732  ;  d.  17  Jan.  1797. 

Eliphalet,  b.  22  March  1734;  d.  29  Sept.  1735. 

Peter,  b.  14  March  1735-6. 

Judith,  b.  11  Jan.  1737-8;  d.  Nov.  1815. 
Josiah  Oilman  d.  1  Jan.  1793. 

Joshua  Oilman,  Meriah  Hersey ;  md.  Nov.  1702. 
Their  children,  Mariah,  b.  2  Oct.  1704. 
Sarah,  b.  20  Dec.  1708. 
Hannah,  b.  14  Sept.  1712. 
Joshua,  b.  2  Feb.  1716. 

Andrew  Oilman,  Joanna  Thing;  md.  27  Jan.  1714-5. 
Their  children,  Abigail,  b.  19  April  1717. 

Jeremiah,  b.  3  June  1719. 

Joanna,  b.  6  Dec.  1721. 

Deborah,  b.  28  Jan.  1723-4. 

Mary,  b.  31  Aug.  1727. 
Joanna  Oilman,  wife  of  Andrew,  d.  16  Nov.  1727. 

Andrew  Oilman,  Bridget  Hilton  ;  md.  3  April  1729. 
Their  children,  Winthrop,  b.  14  Feb.  1730-1. 

Elizabeth,  b.  30  Nov.  1732. 

Anna,  b.  23  Oct.  1734. 

Andrew,  b.  28  Oct.  1736;  d.  28  Jan.  1736-7. 
Bridget  Oilman,  wife  of  Andrew,  d.  10  Nov.  1736. 

Jonathan  Oilman,  Jr.,  Elizabeth  Sanburn;  md.  12  May  1737. 
Their  childi-en,  Elizabeth,  b.  19  Aug.  1741. 
Hannah,  b.  8  Dec.  1742. 

Nathaniel  Oilman,  b.  10  Nov.  1759,  md.  29  Dec.  1785  Abigail  Odliu. 
Their,children,  Frances,  b.  11  Sept.  1787;  d.  7  April  1821. 
Abigail,  b.  10  Dec.  1789. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  19 

Nathaniel,  b.  13  Nov.  1793. 

Ann,  b.  10  Aug.  1796  ;  d.  2  Jan.  1827. 
Mrs.  Abigail  Oilman  d.  10  Aug.  1796. 
Nathaniel  Oilman  md.  (2d)  13  Dec.  1796  Dorothy  Folsom  of  Portsmouth. 
Their  children,  Nicholas,  b.  2  Sept.  1799;  d.  23  Jan.  1840. 

Samuel  T.,  b.  17  May  1801 ;  d.  23  Jan.  1835. 

Daniel,  b.  28  June  1804 ;  d.  4  Dec.  1841. 

John  T.,  b.  9  May  1806. 

Charles  E.,  b.  12  Feb.  1808;  d.  23  Jan.  1840. 

Mary  0.,  b.  9  March  1810. 

JosephT.,  b.  12  Oct.  1811. 

Samuel  Oilman,  b.  15  ISIarch  1752,  md.  30  May  1774  Sarah  Hall. 
Their  child,  Josiah  H.,  b.  15  Aug.  1775;  d.  24  Dec.  1775. 
Mrs.  Sarah  Oilman  d.  18  Jan.  1776. 

Samuel  Oilman,  ^lartha  Kinsman ;  md.  16  Sept.  1779. 
Their  children,  Samuel,  b.  1  July  1780;  d.  28  Aug.  1781. 

Samuel  K.,  b.  31  Jan.  1782;  d.  1  Oct.  1795. 

Jonathan,  b.  27  April  1784 ;  d.  7  June  1809. 

Martha,  b.  20  Feb.  1786;  d.  22  Feb.  1786. 

John  K.,  b.  14  Aug.  1787. 

Martha,  b.  21  Feb.  1789. 

Lydia,  b.  11  May  1791 ;  d.  2  Feb.  1832. 

Hannah,  b.  15  May  1794. 

Samuel  K.,  b.  2  May  1796. 
Mrs.  Martha  Oilman  d.  19  Oct.  1809. 
Samuel  Oilman  d.  29  Aug.  1838. 

Samuel  Oilman,  Jr.,  Lydia  Oiddinge ;  md.  4  May  1761. 
Their  children,  Tabitha,  b.  7  April  1762;  d.  2  May  1837. 
Frederick,  b.  28  Jan.  1764;  d.  1798. 
Ehzabeth,  b.  Jan.  1765;  d.  May  1766. 
Robert,  b.  May  1768;  d.  Nov.  1769. 
Peter,  b.  9  Feb.  1771 ;  d.  in  France. 
Arthur,  b.  28  Oct.  1773. 
Henry,  b.  30  Aug.  1777. 
Samuel  Oilman,  Jr.,  d.  July  1778. 

Jonathan  Oilman,  Elizabeth  Leavit;  md.  16  Jan.  1723-4. 
Their  children,  Alice,,  b.  15  April  1725. 

Ehzabeth,  b.  5  June  1727. 
Robert  Briscoe,  b.  21  June  1729. 
Alice,  b.  11  July  1731. 
Jonathan,  b.  18  May  1733. 
Hannah,  b.  29  Dec.  1734. 


20  HISTORY  or  EXETER. 

Mary,  b,  7  May  1737. 
Johii,  b.  28  Nov.  1738. 
Robert  Briscoe,  b.  27  Nov.  1740. 
Hannah,  b.  20  Nov.  1743. 
Dorothy,  b.  18  July  1746. 

Josiah  Oilman,  Sarah  Oilman;  mcl.  30  Nov.  1763. 
Their  children,  John  Phillips,  b.  7  Nov.  1764. 
Sarah,  b.  8  July  1766. 
Mary,  b.  10  May  1768. 
Elizabeth,  b.  11  June  1770.         j 
Bartholomew,  b.  9  Nov.  1772. 
Tabitha,  b.  13  Aug.  177.3;  d.  11  Oct.  1777. 
Anne,  b.  9  Sept.  1777  ;  d.  Aug.  1823. 
Rebecca,  b.  29  Sept.  1780;  d.  21  Oct.  1815. 
Catherine,  b.  3  Sept.  1782. 
Charlotte,  b.  17  July  178o. 
Sarah  Oilman,  wife  of  Josiah,  d.  26  July  1785. 

Joseph  Oilman,  Rebecca  Ives  ;  md.  21  Sept.  1763. 
Their  chilcben,  Robert  Hale,  b.  6  Dec.  1764. 

Benjamin  Ives,  b.  29  July  1766. 

Thomas  Oilman,  Elizabeth  Rogers;  md.  31  Dec.  1772. 
Their  children,  Whlttingham,  b.  30  Nov.  1773. 

Thomas,  b.  25  Aug.  1775. 

John,  b.  4  Dec.  1777. 

Nathaniel  Clark,  b.  20  Dec.  1779. 

Henry,  b.  28  Aug.  1782. 

EHzabeth,  b.  5  May  1786. 

Abigail  Bromfield,  b.  14  Feb.  1789. 
Thomas  Oilman  was  b.  15  June  1747. 
Elizabeth  Rogers,  b.  22  Feb.  1754. 
Mrs.  Oilman  d.  8  Feb.  1791. 

Samuel  Oilman,  ^lary  Blodget ;  md.  30  Nov.  1780. 
Their  child,  Elizabeth  Blodget,  b.  16  Dec.  1781. 

John  Ward  Oilman,  b.  9  May  1741,  md.  3  Dec.  1767  Hannah  Emery,  b. 
24  June  1745. 
Their  children,  Stephen,  b.  27  Aug.  1768  ;  d.  9  Oct.  1849. 
AVard,  b.  18  Dec.  1769;  d.  14  Dec.  1821. 
Jane,  b.  14  Sept.  1771 ;  d.  3  April  1778. 
AUen,  b.  16  July  1773. 

Deborah  Harris,  b.  26  May  1775 ;  d.  July  1864. 
John,  b.  8  April  1777 ;  d.  11  April  1777. 
Hannah,  b.  6  May  1778. 
Jane,  b.  23  July  i7S0. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  21 

John,  b.  15  Aug.  1782 ;  d.  10  Sept.  1822. 

Samuel,  b.  4  Jan.  1785. 

Joseph,  b.  4  March  1789 ;  d.  18  Aug.  1805. 

Elizabeth,  b.  29  May  1791. 
Mrs.  Hannah  Gilman  d.  22  June  1802. 
John  W.  Gilman  d.  IG  June  1823. 

Joseph  S.  Gilm^an,  Elizabeth  Odlin  ;  nid. 

Their  children,  Elizabeth  Ann  Taylor,  b.  5  July  1797  ;  d.  9  Jan.  1882. 

Mary  Taylor,  b.  26  May  1806 ;  d.  13  July  1877. 
Joseph  S.  Gilman  d.  26  Sept.  1826. 
Elizabeth  Gilman  d.  1  April  1840. 

Eliphalet  Gilman,  Sarah  Conner;  md.  10  May  1778. 

Their  children,  Sally  b.  17  Aug.  1779. 

Harriot,  b.  8  June  1783. 

Patty,  b.  15  April  1786. 

Eliphalet,  b.  19  May  1788. 

Betsey,  b.  13  Dec.  1789. 

Dorothy  Bartlett,  b.  11  May  1792. 
Mrs.  Sarah  Gilman  d.  1796. 
Eliphalet  Gilman  d.  24  Nov.  1822. 

John  Phillips  Gilman,  Elizabeth  Hanson  ;  md.  7  Dec.  1788. 
Their  children,  Sarah,  b.  4  May  1790. 

Elizabeth,  b.  20  June  1794. 
Mary  Ann,  b.  4  Aug.  1797. 

Benjamin  Clark  Gilman,  Mary  Thing  Gilman ;  md.  24  June  1788. 
Their  children,  Phillips,  b.  8  April  1789  ;  d.  1838. 
Clarissa,  b.  14  Nov.  1790. 
Charles  William,  b.  10  Feb.  1793. 
William  Charles,  b.  2  May  1795. 
Serena,  b.  10  Sept.  1797. 

Samuel  Frederick,  b.  2  Dec.  1799 ;  d.  5  Dec.  1816. 
Arthur  Frederick,  b.  23  Dec.  1801. 
Rufus  King,  b.  18  March  1804;  d.  8  Feb.  1828. 
Mrs.  Mary  Thing  Gilman  d.  7  Dec.  1841. 

Nicholas  Gilman,  Sarah  Hudson  Mellen;  md.  8  Sept.  1823. 
Their  children,  Augustus  Henry,  b.  9  Aug.  1824. 

Henry  Augustus,  b.  9  Aug.  1824;  d.  25  Aug.  1824. 
Sarah  Almira,  b.  29  Aug.  1827. 

Alexander  Gordon,  said  to  be  Scotch  soldier  of  Charles  11.,  taken  prisoner  by 
Parliamentarians,  sent  to  America  1651,  md.  1663  Mary  Listen,  dau.  of 
Nicholas  Listen  of  Exeter. 


22  HISTOKY  OF  EXETER. 

Their  children,  Elizabeth,  b.  23  Feb.  1664. 

Nicholas,, b.  23  March  1665-6. 

Mary,  b.  22  May  1668. 

John,  b.  26  Oct.  1670. 

James,  b.  22  July  1673. 

Alexander,  b.  1  Dec.  1675. 

Thomas,  b.  1678. 

Daniel,  b.  1682. 
Alexander  Gordon,  Sr.,  d.  Exeter  1697. 

Thomas  Gordon,  son  of  Alexander  Gordon,  md.,  22  Nov.  1699  Elizabeth 
Harriman  of  Haverhill,  Mass. 
Their  children,  Timothy,  b.  19  Aug.  1700;  d.  in  infancy. 

Thomas,  b.  24  Aug.  1701. 

Diana,  b.  26  Jan.  1703. 

Daniel,  b.  1  Dec.  1704. 

Abigail,  b.  28  May  1707. 

Benoni,  b.  1709. 

Timothy,  b.  22  March  1716. 

James,  b. 

Hannah,  b. 

Nathaniel,  b.  25  March  1728. 

Benjamin,  b. 
Thomas  Gordon,  Sr.,  d.  1762. 

Timothy  Gordon,  son  of  Thomas  Gordon,  md.  1748  Maria  Stockbridge  of 
Stratham. 
Their  children,  Abraham,  b. 

Mary,  b.  22  Oct.  1753. 
Hannah,  b.  4  Dec.  1756. 
Timothy,  b.  30  Dec.  1757. 
Maria,  b. 

Elisha,  b.  11  April  1763. 
Emma,  b. 
John,  b. 
Timothy  Gordon,  Sr.,  d.  1796. 

Timothy  Gordon,  son  of  Timothy  Goi'don  and  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  md. 
23  Jan.  1782  Lydia  Whitmore  of  Newbury,  Mass. 
Their  children,  William,  b.  17  May  1783. 
Lydia,  b.  11  Dec.  1785. 
John  S.,  b.  23  Dec.  1786. 
Charles,  b.  5  Sept.  1788. 
Nathaniel,  b.  7  Dec.  1792. 
Timothy,  b.  10  March  1795. 
Ebenezer,  b.  28  Feb.  1797. 
Harriet,  b.  4  Aug.  1804. 
Timothy  Gordon  d.,  a  pensioner  of  the  United  States,  1836. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  23 

Nathaniel  Gordon,  son  of  Thomas  Gordon,  md.  1756  Elizabeth  Smith  of 
Exeter. 

-    Their  childi'en,  Elizabeth,  b.  19  Feb.  1758. 
Nathaniel,  b.  1760. 
John,  b.  19  June  1765. 
Mary,  b.  23  April  1774. 
Nathaniel  Gordon,  Sr.,  d.  24  March  1789. 

Nathaniel  Gordon,  son  of  Nathaniel  Gordon,  Sr.,  md.  14  Nov.  1790  Sarah 
Shepard,  dau.  of  Rev.  Samuel  Shepard  of  Brentwood. 
Then-  children,  Frances,  b.  22  Sept.  1793. 
Sophia,  b.  6  April  1795. 
Two  others  d.  in  infancy. 
Nathaniel  Gordon  md.  (2d)  30  Aug.  1808  Mary  Robinson. 
Their  child,  Mary  Elizabeth,  b.  22  Aug.  1809. 
Nathaniel  Gordon  d.  30  Dec.  1815. 

John  Gordon,  b.  19  June  1765,  md.  8  Aug.  1790  Mary  Batchelder  of  Kings- 
ton, b.  4  Jan.  1764. 
Their  children,  Nathaniel  Batchelder,  b.  2  March  1791. 
John  T.,  b.  27  Oct.  1792. 
Stephen  Leavitt,  b.  25  April  1795, 
George  William,  b.  8  Feb.  1801. 

John  S.  Gordon,  son  of  2d  Timothy  Gordon  of  NcAvbury,  Mass.,  md.  11 
March  1814  Frances  Gordon,  dau.  of  2d  Nathaniel  Gordon. 
Their  chikken,  Frances  Sarah,  b.  7  Feb.  1815. 
Sarah  Frances,  b.  2  July  1817. 
Nathaniel,  b.  26  Nov.  1820. 
Mary  D.,  b.  24  Dec.  1827. 
John  S.  Gordon  d.  1845. 

Nathaniel  Gordon,  son  of  John  S.  Gordon,  md.  26  Dec.  1853  Alcina  Eve- 
line Sanborn,  dau.  of  Moses  Sanborn  of  Kingston. 
Their  children,  Moses  Sanborn,  b.  14  Dec.  1854. 

John  Thomas,  b.  4  May  1857  ;  d.  in  infancy. 
Nathaniel,  b.  24  March  1859. 
Frances  Eveline,  b.  29  March  1861. 
Mary  Alcina  Elizabeth,  b.  7  March  1864. 
Mrs.  Alcina  Gordon  d.  14  April  1864. 
Nathaniel  Gordon  md.  (2d)  4  June  1868  George  Anne  Lowe,  dau.  of  John 
Lowe,  Jr.,  and  Sarah  Anne  (Simes)  Lowe. 

James  Gordon,  son  of  Jonathan  Gordon,  b.  5  July  1725,  md.  Elizabeth  Gil- 
man,  dau.  of  Cartee  Gilman,  b.  14  April  1727. 
Their  child,  William,  b.  13  March  1753. 


24  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Gordon  d.  and  James  Gordon  md.  (2d)  Elizabeth  DoUoff, 
dau.  of  Samuel  DoUoff,  b.  6  Feb.  1728. 
Their  children,  Joseph,  b.  25  Aug.  1759. 
Esther,  b.  24  March  1764. 
Lydia,  b.  1  Nov.  1766. 

Benjamin  Gordon,  b.  20  Sept.  1798,  md.  27  April  1823  Frances  Folsom, 
b.  12  Feb.  1798. 

Their  children,  Calvin  Folsom,  b.  3  Feb.  1824. 
Frances  Mary,  b.  17  June  1827. 
Benjamin  Franklin,  b.  8  May  1830. 
Lydia  Ann,  b.  2  April  1833. 

Francis  Grant,  son  of  James  and  Betsey  Grant,  md.  2  Nov.  1822  Mary  W. 
Carleton,  dau.  of  Theodore  and  Mary  Carleton. 
Their  children,  Daniel  Francis,  b.  13  Feb.  1824. 

Betsey,  b.  15  April  1825;  d.  12  March  1856. 
Charles,  b.  26  March  1827. 
Mary  Frances,  b.  27  March  1829. 
Mrs.  Mary  W.  Grant  d.  13  June  1831. 

Francis  Grant  md.  (2d)  3  May  1832  Abby  J.  Pike,  dau.  of  Elias  Pike  of 
Newburyport. 
Then-  children,  George  Augustus  b.  28  Oct.  1833  ;  d.  3  Nov.  1846. 
Ann  Burley,  b.  24  Nov.  1835  ;  d.  27  May  1858. 
Abby  Jane,  b.  1  Dec.  1839. 
William,  b.  15  Sept.  1841  ;  d.  13  Aug.  1854. 
James  Henry,  b.  20  Nov.  1843 ;  d.  10  Sept.  1847. 
Elias  Pike,  b.  21  Aug.  1848 ;  d.  18  Sept.  1848. 
Mrs.  Abby  J.  Grant  d.  25  Oct.  1848,  aged  41  jts.  8  nios. 

Josiah  Hall  md.  10  May  1719  Mrs.  Hannah  Light,  widow  of  John  Light. 
Their  children,  Kinsley,  b.  11  Nov.  1720. 

Josiah,  b.  21  Oct.  1721. 

Dudley,  b.  20  Jan.  1722-3. 

Samuel,  b.  20  April  1724. 

Abigail,  b.  20  June  1726. 

Paul,  b.  18  April  1728. 
Josiah  Hall,  Sr.,  d.  16  Oct.  1729. 

Kinsley  Hall,  Jr.,  and  Mary  Hall. 

Their  children,  Henry  Ranlet,  b.  20  July  1812. 

Catharine  Norris,  b.  10  July  1814. 
Charles  Edward,  b.  14  June  1816. 
Henry  E.. 
Benjamin  E. 

John  Harris  md.  Mary  Hall,  dau.  of  Capt.  Kinsley  Hall,  b.  18  Aug.  1678. 
Their  child,  Mary,  b.  25  July  1707  ;  md.  Herbert  Waters. 
Mrs.  Mary  Harris  d.  2  March  1707-8. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  25 

Samuel  Hatch  of  Wells,  Mass.,  b.  14  July  1774,  md.  14  May  1797  Mary 
Oilman,  b.  2  April  1777. 
Their  children,  Daniel  G.,  b.  3  Aug.  1798. 

Samuel,  b.  19  May  1800;  d.  26  Oct.  1801. 

Samuel,  b.  9  Dec.  1802. 

Joseph  W.,  b.  29  Sept.  1804;  d.  20  Feb.  1822. 

William,  b.  27  July  1806. 

Johnston,  b.  17  July  1808  ;  d.  7  April  1809. 

Johnston,  b.  14  July  1810. 

Charles  H.,  b.  14  July  1812  ;  d.  21  June  1825. 

Mary  Ann,  b.  19  April  181o  ;  d.  22  Feb.  1828. 

Edward  W.  b.  16  Aug.  1818. 

C.  W.  Hervey,  b.  Newburyport,  Mass.,  md.  9  Nov.  1836  Eliza  H.  Lunt,  b. 
Portsmouth. 
Their  childi-en,  Francis  H.,  b.  20  Feb.  1838. 

Charles  W.,  b.  10  Dec.  1839 ;  d.  8  Oct.  1846. 
Louis  P.,  b.  18  April  1848. 

John  Holland,  Bethiah  ]Magoon  ;  md.  1  Jan.  1730-1. 
Their  chikken,  Annis,  b.  o  Oct.  1731. 
John,  b.  14  June  1733. 
Mary,  b.  8  July  1735. 
Robert,  b.  5  Jan.  1737-8. 
Martha,  b.  25  Dec.  1739. 
Bethiah,  b.  25  March  1742. 

Daniel  Holman  and  Hannah  Holman. 
Their  children,  Daniel,  b.  3  April  1715. 
Hannah,  b.  3  April  1715. 

Francis  James. 

His  children,  Kinsley,  b.  19  Feb.  1708-9. 
Dudley,  b.  5  Nov.  1713. 
Francis,  b.  16  Feb.  1714-5. 

Kinsley  James  md.  5  Nov.   1735  Mary  Hilton,  dau.  of  Dudley  and  Mercy 
Hliton,  b.  22  Oct.  1709. 
Their  chikben,  Elizabeth,  b.  15  Sept.  1736;  d.  27  July  1737. 
Mary,  b.  10  Dec.  1737. 
Lois',  b.  30  Sept.  1739;  md.  Theophilus  Lyford,  and  (2d) 

Gideon  Colcord. 
Kinsley. 
Ann,  md.  Thomas  Lyford,  and  (2d)  Col.  Eliphalet  Giddings. 

Dudley  James,  son  of  Francis  and  Elizabeth  James,  md.  5  March   1740-1 
Mary  Light,  dau.  of  John  and  Hannah  Light. 
Their  children,  Abigail,  b.  8  June  1742. 

Dudley  Hall,  b.  8  Sept.  1744;  d.  8  May  1765. 
Robert,  b.  9  Sept.  1746;  d.  8  Feb.  1748-9. 


26  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Dudlej'  James,  Tirzah  Emery;  md.  12  July  1753. 
Their  chikh-en,  Tirzah,  Caleb,  b.  15  May  1755. 

Joshua,  b.  31  Aug.  1757 ;  d.  4  Oct.  1825. 

Mary,  b.  2  Dec.  1759. 
Mrs.  Tirzah  James  d.  2  Dec.  1759. 
Dudley  James  d.  24  Feb.  1776,  aged  62  jts.  3  mos.  19  days. 

Samuel  Jones  md.  Mary  Lunt,  dau.  of  Henry  Lunt  of  Newbury. 
Their  children,  Henry,  b.  7  July  1731. 
Abigail,  b.  3  Oct.  1733. 
Susannah,  b.  22  June  1739. 

Joel  Judkins,  Mary  Bean;  md.  1674. 
Their  children.  Job,  b.  25  Jan.  1674-5. 

Sarah,  Hannah,  b.  13  Nov.  1678.  (?) 
Mary,  b.  7  Nov.  1678.  (?) 

John  Kimball,  Abigail  Lyford;  md.  14  Feb.  1722-3. 
Their  chilcU-en,  Judith,  b.  11  June  1724. 

Abigail,  b.  18  Aug.  1726. 

John,  b.  20  July  1728;  d.  1  July  1738. 

Joseph,  b.  29  Jan.  1730-1. 

Lydia,  b.  4  Oct.  1733. 

Thomas,  b.  10  March  1735-6. 

Mrs.  Abigail  Kimball  d.  12  Feb.  1737-8. 

John  Kimball  md.  (2d)  18  Sept.  1740  Sarah  Wilson,  dau.  of  Dea.  Thomas 
Wilson. 

Theii"  children,  Sarah,  b.  24  Aug.  1741. 
John,  b.  25  Nov.  1742. 
Noah,  b.  31  May  1744. 
Olive,  b.  12  July  1746. 
Nathaniel,  b.  16  Oct.  1747. 
Moses,  b.  13  May  1749. 
Caleb,  b.  16  July  1750. 
Thomas,  b.  7  Feb.  1751-2. 
Jesse,  b.  16  Nov.  1753. 

Thomas  Kimball,  Elinor  Dudley;  md.  25  Sept.  1746. 
Their  children,  Elinor,  b.  10  June  1747. 

Dudley,  b.  13  March  1748-9. 

John  Kimball,  b.  1  Jan.  1771,  md.  8  Sept.  1825  Sarah  Hodgkins,  b.  7  Dec. 
1792. 

Their  children,  Mehetabel  Ann,  b.  12  Sept.  1826. 
John  Hem-y,  b.  8  Dec.  1827. 
Mary  Abigail,  Samuel  Ney,  b.  31  May  1831. 
Robert  Porter,  b.  18  Oct.  1833. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  27 

Mrs.  Sarah  Kimball  d.  9  Aug.  1848. 
John  KimbaD  d.  29  Oct.  1849. 

Nathaniel  Ladd,  Elizabeth  Oilman ;  md.  1678. 
Their  children,  Nathaniel,  b.  6  April  1679. 

Elizabeth,  b.  6  Jan.  1680. 

Mary,  b.  28  Dec.  1682. 

Lydia,  b.  27  Dec.  1684. 

Daniel,  b.  18  March  1686-7. 

John,  b.  6  July  1689. 

Anna,  b.  25  Dec.  1691. 
Nathaniel  Ladd  was  mortally  wounded  in   a  fight  with  the   Indians   at 
Macquoit,  and  d.  11  Aug.  1691. 

Eliphalet  Ladd,  son  of  Josiah  Ladd,  b.  10  June  1744,  md.  14  May  1772 
Abigail  Hill,  dau.  of  Elisha  Hill  of  Berwick,  b.  7  Sept.  1750. 
Their  children,  Sally,  b.  6  July  1774  ;  d.  12  Oct.  1798  [wife  of  Kev.  W.  F. 
Rowland]. 
Betsey,  b.  12    Aug.  1776;   d.  Portsmouth  18  Nov.  1821 

[wife  of  Capt.  Samuel  Chauncy] . 
William,  b.  10  May  1778  ;  d.  Portsmouth  1841. 
Henry,  b.  30  April  1780;  d.  Portsmouth  1842. 
Charlotte,  b.  9  April  1782. 
John  Alexandfir,  b.  9  May  1784, 
Caroline,  b.  4  May  1786 
Sophia,  b.  12  Feb.  1788. 

Joseph  Lamsonmd.  7  Sept.  1747  PernalGiddinge,  dau.  of  Zebulon  Giddinge. 
Mrs.  Pernal  Lamson  d.  21  Feb.  1809,  aged  83  yrs.  5  mos. 

Benjamin  Lamson,  b.  11  Nov.  1740,  md.  14  March  1765  Martha  Dennis,  b. 
27  Aug.  1735,  and  removed  from  Ipswich. 

Their  children,  Stephen,  b.  24  Jan.  1766. 

Thomas  Dennis,  b.  27  April  1767;  drowned  17  July  1784. 

Sarah,  b.  24  Dec.  1768. 

Joseph,  b.  11  Jan.  1771. 

Martha,  Lydia,  b.  8  June  1773;  Martha  d.  16  Feb.  1788; 

Lydia  d.  7  Nov.  1790. 
Eunice,  b.  4  Dec.  1775  ;  d.  14  Sept.  1777. 
Clarissa,  b.    29  Aug.   1780;    d.   11    March   1824  [wife  of 

George  Sullivan]. 
Benjamin  Lamson  d.  Concord  July  1817. 

Joseph  Lamson,  Jr.,  md.  29  April  1769  Rachel  Sanborn  of  Hampton  Falls. 
Their  children,  Joseph,  b.  8  Nov.  1770 ;  d.  1793. 
Mehetable,  b.  6  Oct.  1773. 
Polly,  b.  9  Aug.  1775 ;  d.  28  July  1792. 
Caleb,  b.  29  June  1778. 


28  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Asa,  b.  7  Jan.  1783. 
John,  b.  8  Dec.  1785. 

Stephen  Lamson,  son  of  Benjamin  Lamson,  b.  24  Jan.  1766,  md.  22  Aug. 
1793  Lucy  Kendall  of  Ipswich,  Mass.,  b.  4  Oct.  1774. 
Their  childi-en,  Lydia,  b.  24  May  1794. 

Ephraim  Kendall,  b.  4  Jan.  1797. 
Susannah  Kendall,  b.  26  June  1801. 
Lucy,  b.  2  Nov.  1805. 
Ruth  Kendall,  b.  14  Aug.  1808. 
Elizabeth  Phillips,  b.  7  May  1810. 

Jotham  Lawrence  of  Epping  md.  21  Feb.  1803  Deborah  Robinson  of  Exeter. 
Their  child,  William  F.,  b.  22  March  1804. 
Mrs.  Deborah  I^awrence  d.  1  April  1804. 
Jotham  Lawrence  md.  (2d)  25  Dec.  1810  Caroline  Conner. 
Their  children,  Alexander  H.  b.  18  June  1812. 

Caroline  F.  b.  18  April  1815. 

Fitz  Henry,  b.  20  June  1817. 

Ellen  C,  b.  25  May  1819. 

Samuel  C,  b.  24  July  1823. 

Elizabeth  D.  C,  b.  24  Aug.  1825. 

Sarah  C,  b.  20  Nov.  1828. 

Lydia  L.,  b.  28  July  1831, 

Samuel  Leavitt. 
His  chilcken,  John,  b.  2  July  1665. 

Mary,  b.  13  Jan.  1666-7. 
Elizabeth,  b.  9  Jan.  1668. 
Hannah,  b.  15  Aug.  1669. 
Samuel,  b.  25  Dec.  1671. 
Jeremy,  b.  6  April  1673. 

Moses  Leavitt,  Dorothy  Dudley ;  md.  26  Oct.  1681. 

James  Leavitt,  Alice  Oilman;  md.  Nov.  1702. 
Their  children,  Elizabeth,  b.  31  March  1704. 

lyiary,  b.  5  June  1706. 

Samuel,  b.  14  June  1709 ;  d.  29  June. 

Joanna,  b.  22  Feb.  1710-11. 

Alice,  James,  b.  14  Aug.  1713. 

Sarah,  b.  14  Sept.  1715. 

Josiah,  b.  22  Nov.  1718;  d.  25  Dec.  1718. 

John,  b.  23  May  1720;  d.  1  March  1721. 
Mrs.  Alice  Leavitt  d.  2  June  1721. 

Benjamin  Leavitt,  Abigail  Batchelor  ;  md. 

Their  chikben,  John  Blake,  b.  1  April  1782 ;  d.  4  Oct.  1859. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  29 

Jeremiah,  b.  9  Jan.  1785  ;  d.  9  Feb.  1827. 
Benjamin  Dow,  b.  16  April  1787. 
Abigail  Thorndike,  b.  12  May  1790. 
Mary  Fogg,  b.  1  July  1792. 
Daniel  Sherburne,  b.  1  Feb.  1795. 
Hannah  Taylor,  b.  17  April  1797. 
Frances,  b.  9  Oct.  1799, 
Benjamin  Leavitt  d.  23  Aug.  1826. 

John  Light  md.  8  Nov.  1705  Hannah  Lord,  dau.  of  Robert  Lord  of  Ipswich. 
Their  children,  Abigail,  b.  about  1  Nov.  1706;  d.  Jan.  1706-7. 
Hannah,  b.  23  Dec.  1707. 
Dorothy,  b.  6  Aug.  1709. 
Robert,  b.  12  Sept.  1711. 
John,  b.  3  Feb.  1713. 
Joseph,  b.  Feb.  1715  ;  d.  March. 
Ebenezer,  b.  20  April  1716. 
Mary  b.  10  March  1718. 

Jonathan  Lord,  Hannah  Light;  md.  14  Oct.  1731. 

John  Lord,  son  of  Tliomas  Lord  of  Ipswich,  md.  31  Oct.  1712  Abigail  Oil- 
man, dau.  of  Moses  and  Anne  Oilman,  b.  24  July  1693. 
Their  children,  Anne,  b.  18  Dec.  1713. 

John,  b.  23  Oct.  1716;  d.  21  Nov.  1716. 

Mary,  b.  16  Jan.  1717 ;  d.  28  Jan.  1717. 

Abiel  [dau.],  b.  9  March  1719  ;  d.  26  March  1719. 

Robert,  b.  23  March  1720  ;  d.  April  1720. 

Jolm,  b.  1  Aug.  1721  ;  d.  15  Aug.  1721. 

Edmund,  b.  22  Sept.  1722;  d.  Oct.  1722. 

Abigail,  b.  15  Jan.  1723-4. 

John,  b.  27  March  1725. 

Robert,  b.  22  Oct.  1726;  d.  Sept.  1727. 

Elizabeth,  b.  6  Nov.  1727 ;  d.  1  Sept.  1735. 

Jonathan,  b.  7  Nov.  1729;  d.  22  April  1730. 

Eliphalet,  b.  18  Aug.  1731. 

Robert,  b.  8  April  1733. 

Samuel,  b.  5  May  1735;  d.  23  Oct.  1735. 

Elizabeth,  b.  22  Jan.  1736-7. 

Robert  Lord,  b.  16  Aug.  1735,  md.  20  Oct.  1757  Elizabeth  Lougee. 
Their  children,  Robert,  b.  17  Aug.  175§;  d.  16  April  1759. 
William,  b.  11  Dec.  1760. 
Mary,  b.  22  Oct.  1762. 
Hannah,  b.  23  Sept.  1765. 
Robert,  b.  24  Jan.  1768. 
Betty,  b.  27  Sept.  1770. 

Daniel  Loverain,  Mary  Sylla;  md.  25  Dec.  1724. 


30  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Their  children,  Abigail,  b.  15  Dec.  1725. 
John,  b.  10  Jan.  1726-7. 
Mrs  Mary  Loverain  d.,  and  Daniel  Loverain  md.  ('2d-)  Mary  Smith. 
Their  childi-en,  Mary,  b.  13  April  1729. 

Ebenezer,  b.  5  April  1731. 
Moses,  Miriam,  b.  1  July  1735. 
Hannah,  b.  31  March  1738-9. 

Benjamin  Lovering,  Jr.,  son  of  Benjamin  Lovering,  md.  Sally  Swasey,  dau.  of 
Edward  Swasey. 
Their  children,  Sally  W.,  b.  4  Feb.  1807.  ^ 

Elizabeth,  b.  11  Aug.  1808. 
Benjamin,  b.  22  Sept.  1809. 
Mary  Ann,  b.  23  Oct.  1811. 
Olivia,  b.  9  June  1814. 
Caroline,  b.  Feb.  1817. 
Charles  E.  b.  1819. 

Thomas  Lyford,  Anne  Conner;  md.  5  Dec.  1728. 
Their  children,  Abigail,  b.  6  Aug.  1741. 
Thomas,  b.  12  May  1743. 
Elizabeth,  b.  1  June  1745. 

Thomas  Lyford,  Jr.,  Anne  James ;  md. 

Their  children,  James,  b.  14  Feb.  1764  ;  drowned  13  Aug.  1789. 

Anne,  b.  6  June  1767. 

Deborah,  b.  3  May  1769. 

Molly,  b.  13  Feb.  1771. 

Abigail,  b.  12  Dec.  1772;  d.  1870. 

Tirzah,  b.  31  March  1775  ;  d.  28  July  1828. 

John,  b.  1  March  1777  ;  d.  1803. 

Betty,  b.  16  March  1779. 

Lois,  b.  10  June  1781. 

Liberty,  b.  6  July  1783. 

Thomas,  b.  30  Nov.  1786;  d.  2  April  1870. 
Thomas  Lyford  d.  27  July  1787,  aged  44  jts.  2  mos. 
Mrs.  Lyford  (afterwards  wife  of  Col.  Eliphalet  Giddings)  d.  12  Aug.  1818. 

Henry  Magoon  and  Elizabeth  (Listen)  Magoon. 
Their  children,  John,  b.  21  Oct.  1658. 

Alexander,  b.  6  Sept.  1661 ;  md.  Sarah  Blake  7  Dec.  1682. 
Mary,  b.  9  Aug.  1666. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Magoon  d.  14  June  1675. 

Mark  Malloon  and  Abigail  Malloon. 
Their  children,  John,  b.  July  1732. 

Nathaniel,  b.  7  April  1733. 
Jonathan,  b.  June  1735. 
Josiah,  b.  July  1737. 


HISTOEY  OF  EXETER.  31 

Rev.   Isaac   Mansfield   of  Exeter  md.   9   Nov.    1776   Mary   Clap,  dau.  of 
Nathaniel  Clap  of  Scituate. 
Their  childi-en,  Theodore,  b.  5  May  1778. 
Isaac,  b.  6  Dec.  1786. 

William  Meeds,  Mary  Dorin  ;  md. 

Their  children,  William,  b.  3  Dec.  1766  ;  d.  New  York  15  Oct.  1782. 

Benjamin,  b.  31  Sept.  1768  ;  d.  Oct.  1815. 

Abigail,  b.  23  May  1771 ;  d.  20  Sept.  1799. 

Stephen,  b.  13  May  1774  ;  d.  5  Feb.  1775. 

Stephen,  b.  14  May  1776  ;  d.  May  1800. 

Horatio  Gates,  b.  4  May  1778 ;  d.  Dec.  1816. 

Polly,  b.  2  July  1781. 

William,  b.  8  Dec.  1783. 

John,  b.  5  Aug.  1789 ;  d.  28  Dec.  1824. 
William  Meeds,  Sr.,  d.  20  March  1816. 
Mrs.  Mary  Meeds  d.  7  Jan.  1827,  aged  82  yrs. 

Daniel  Melcher,  b.  Portsmouth  15  Jan.  1799,  md.   27  April   1823  Nancy 
Y.  Folsom,  b.  Exeter  16  March  1802. 
Their  childi-en,  Daniel  Flagg,  b.  22  July  1824. 
James  Folsom,  b.  1  Aug.  1826. 
Charles  Henry,  b.  23  Feb.  1829. 
Gershom  Flagg,  b.  22  May  1831. 
Mary  Olivia,  b.  27  Sept.  1833. 
William  Perry,  b.  6  Sept.  1836 ;  d.  3  June  1838. 
William  P.,  b.  16  Feb.  1839. 
Ann  Elizabeth,  b.  30  Oct.  1841. 
Lewis  Cass,  Ed^in  Forrest,  b.  28  Sept.  1844. 

Jeremiah  L.  Merrill,  b.  4  Jan.  1819,  md.  29  Nov.  1841  Mary  E.  Moses,  b.  25 
June  1813. 
Their  child,  Joseph  W.,  b.  25  March  1843. 

Lewis  :Mitchell,  b.  Limington,  Me.,  6  April  1805,  md.  11  Nov.  1829  Frances 
D.  Wedgwood,  b.  22  Sept.  1807. 
Their  children,  Lewis  F.,  b.  6  May  1831 ;  d.  30  Aug.  1839. 
Oriana,  b.  8  Feb.  1834. 
Isaac  H.,  b.  2  May  1836 ;  d.  21  June  1845. 
Ellen  E.,  b.  4  Nov.  1838. 
Fanny  D.,  b.  8  June  1841. 
Harriet  M.,  b.  1  May  1844. 
Isaac  L.,  b.  26  Aug.  1846. 
Emma  E.,  b.  12  July  1849. 
George  W.  E.,  b.  18  Feb.  1853. 

Rev.  John  Moody  md.  5  April   1730  Ann  Hall,  dau.  of  Capt.  Edward  Hall. 
Their  child,  Mary,  b.  4  March  1730-1. 


32  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

William  Moore  and  Elizabeth  Moore. 
Their  children,  John,  b.  25  Dec.  1789. 

Ann,  b.  23  April  1792 ;  d.  21  Sept.  1841. 

Elizabeth,  b.  10  Feb.  1795. 

Nicholas  G  ,  b.  9  Oct.  1797  ;  d.  18  Oct.  1795.  ( ?  ) 

Nicholas,  b.  30  May  1800 ;  d.  Oct.  1825. 

William,  b.  27  June  1803;  d.  19  May  1843. 

Catharine,  b.  16  Feb.  1806. 

Charles,  b.  20  Feb.  1810 ;  d.  26  June  1814. 

Theodore  Moses,  b.  20  Sept.  1766,  md.  Stratham  iNov.  1789  Deborah  Emery, 
b.  22  Nov.  1769. 
Their  children,  Theodore  B.,  b.  15  Nov.  1790. 
John  F.,  b.  10  Sept.  1792. 
Susan  T.,  b.  27  Aug.  1794. 
Samuel  T.,  b.  20  Jan.  1798;  d.  26  Oct.  1842. 
G.  W.,  b.  7  Jan.  1800. 
Charles  C.  P.,  b.  17  May  1802. 
William  P.,  b.  9  Aug.  1804. 
A.  A.,  b.  2  Oct.  1807. 
A.  T.,  b.  11  Feb.  1810. 
Elizabeth  M.,  b.  25  June  1813. 
Mary  E.,  b. 

John  F.  Moses,  Mary  Smith  Pearson  ;  md.  Dec.  1815. 
Their  childi-en,  James  Colman,  b.  21  Nov.  1817. 

Deborah,  b.  16  Oct.  1819. 

John  Lees,  b.  9  May  1822. 
Mrs.  Mary  S.  Moses  d.  10  Aug.  1844,  aged  54  yrs.  2  mos. 

Thomas  Mudget,  Elizabeth  Smith;  md.  2  May  1723. 
Their  children,  Sarah,  b.  3  March  1725. 
Thomas,  b.  11  Nov.  1727. 
Nicholas,  b.  1  Jan.  1730-31. 

Josiah  Nelson,  b.  23  Nov.  175S,  md.  Mary  Robinson,  b.  9  April  1758. 
Their  chUdren,  Sally,  b.  19  July  1781 ;  d.  April  1805. 

John,  b.  30  April  1783. 

PoUy,  b.  4  Aug.  1785  ;  d.  Nov.  1801. 

Caroline,  b.  7  Oct.  1788;  d.  11  Aug.  1837. 

Sophia,  b.  31  March  1791 ;  d.  2  March  1819. 

Ann,  b.  27  Jan.  1795. 

Josiah,  b.  19  July  1797. 

Horatio  G.,  b.  31  March  1800  ;  d.  Fayetteville,  N.  C,  1831. 

Samuel,  b.  9  Dec.  1804. 
Josiah  Nelson,  Sr.,  di-owned  in  river  just  below  mill,  Aug.  1812. 
Widow  Mary  Nelson  d.  1  Nov.  1840,  aged  82  yrs. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  33 

Nicholas  Norris. 

His  children,  Moses,  b.  14  An?:.  1670,  md.  4  March  lG91-2Iluth  Folsom. 
Jonathan,  b.  o  March  1G73. 
Abigail,  b.  29  Nov.  1675. 
Sarah,  b.  10  April  1678. 
James,  b.  16  Nov.  1680. 
Elizabeth,  b.  4  Sept.  1683. 

Dr.  Nathan  North  and  Nancy  North. 

Their  children,  Alfred,  b.  10  March  1807. 

Henry,  b.  25  July  1811 ;  d.  31  Dec.  1814. 
Charles,  b.  5  Oct.  1813 ;  d.  25  Sept.  1814. 
Dr.  North  moved  from  Exeter  into  Vermont  June  1815. 

Mark  Nutter. 

His  children,  Henry,  b.  6  April  1786. 
John,'b.  25  April  1789. 
Mark,  b.  25  Oct.  1792. 
Mary,  b.  24  Aug.  1796. 

Joseph  Odlin,  Harriet  A.  Downs  ;  md.  8  Sept.  1846. 
Their  child,  Charles  Cashing,  b.  31  Oct.  1847. 

Thomas   Odiorne,  b.  1  Dec.  1733,  md.  31  Jan.  1762   Joanna  Oilman,  b.  30 
Sept.  1739. 
Their  children,  Deborah,  b.  11  May  1763  ;  d.  1814. 
George,  b.  15  Aug.  1764. 
Jane,  b.  3  March  1766  ;  d.  5  April  1766. 
John,  b.  21  March  1767  ;  d.  17  May  1824. 
Thomas,  b.  26  April  1769. 
Joanna,  b.  6  Feb.  1771. 
Ebenezer,  b.  7  May  1773 ;  d.  23  Dec.  1817. 
Elizabeth,  b.  7  Jan.  1775. 
Ann,  b.  9  Oct.  1778  ;  d.  1830. 
Thomas  Odiorne  d.  28  April  1819.    Mrs.  Joanna  Odiorne  d.  5  April  1829. 

George  Odiorne,  b.  15  Aug.   1764,  md.  4   Oct.  1787  Dolly  Tufts  of  New- 
buryport,  Mass.,  b.  22  March  1767. 
Then-  child,  Samuel  Tufts,  b.  27  May  1793. 
Mrs.  Dolly  Odiorne  d.  8  Sept.  1793. 

John  Odiorne,  PoUy  Thayer;  md.  6  March  1800. 
Their  children,  Mary  Jane,  b.  21  Nov.  1800. 

Anna  Maria,  b.  13  Oct.  1802  ;  d.  25  Oct.  1803. 
Henry  Moore,  b.  26  Aug.  1804  ;  d.  14  Sept.  1805. 
Joanna,  b.  30  Dec.  1806 ;  d.  26  Jan.  1842. 
Richard  Thayer,  b.  14  March  1808;  d.  17  Oct.  1808. 
Ann  Moore  T.,  b.  10  Dec.  1814. 

3a 


34  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Rev.  John  Odlin,  Elizabeth  Clark ;  mcl.  21  Oct.  1706. 
Their  children,  John,  b.  7  Nov.  1707. 

Elisha,  b.  16  Nov.  1709. 
Dudley,  b.  22  Sept.  1711. 
Samuel,  b.  14  Aug.  1714  ;  d.  31  Aug.  1714. 
Woodbridge,  b.  28  April  1718. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Odlin  d.  6  Dec.  1729. 
Rev.  John  Odlin,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Briscoe  ;  md.  22  Sept.  1730. 

Elisha  Odlin,  Judith  Pike ;  md.  1  Nov.  1731. 
Their  children,  John,  b.  4  Sept.  1732.  i 

Winthi-op,  b.  23  Oct.  1734. 
William,  b.  7  Feb.  1737-8. 
Elisha,  b.  28  April  1741  ;  d.  8  Dec.  1741. 
Anna,  b.  10  Jan.  1743-4. 

John  Odlin,  Jr.,  Mrs.  Alice  Leavitt;  md.  27  Feb.  1734-5. 

Their  children,  Elizabeth,  b.  7  Feb.  1735-6  ;  d.  16  Feb.  1735-6 
Abigail,  b.  11  Feb.  1736-7  ;  d.  12  Aug.  1747. 
Elizabeth,  b.  30  April  1739. 
Sarah,  b.  14  March  1740-1 ;  d.  3  Sept.  1747. 
Alice,  b.  5  Oct.  1743  ;  d.  1814. 
John,  b.  27  Dec.  1745  ;  d.  3  Sept.  1747. 
Abigail,  b.  28  May  1748  ;  d.  Dec.  1816. 
Samuel,  b.  18  Dec.  1750. 

Rev.  Woodbridge  Odlin,  Mrs.  Abigail  Strong  ;  md.  23  Oct.  1755. 
Their  children,  Elizabeth,  b.  6  Aug.  1756  ;  d.  21  Aug.  1756. 
Dudley,  b.  13  Aug.  1757. 
Woodbridge,  b.  26  Sept.  1759. 
Peter,  b.  25  March  1762. 
Elizabeth,  b.  8  April  1764. 
Abigail,  b.  26  Aug.  1766  ;  d.  19  July  1768. 
Abigail,  b.  21  Oct.  1768;  d.  10  Aug.  1796. 
John,  b.  2  Dec.  1770 ;  lost  at  sea. 
Mary  Ann,  b.  24  Sept.  1772, 

Dudley  Odlin,  Elizabeth  Oilman  ;  md.  14  Feb.  1782. 
Their  children,  Abigail,  b.  5  Feb.  1783. 

Betsy,  b.  14  Dec.  1784;  d.  Oct.  1785. 
Woodbridge,  b.  4  June  1786;  d.  11  June  1809. 
Peter,  b.  25  Dec.  1787. 
Caroline,  b.  March  1790  ;  d  17  March  1817. 

William  Odlin,  b.  16  Feb.  1767,  md.  Betsey  Leavitt,  b.  21  Dec.  1769. 
Their  children,  James,  b.  9  Jan.  1792. 

William,  b.  10  Jan.  1793. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  35 

Thomas,  b.  16  Nov.  1794 ;  d.  5  March  1826. 
Joseph  and  Benjamm  (twins),  b.  16  Jan.  1797. 
Betsey,  b.  23  Nov.  1799. 
Woodbridge,  b.  9  May  1805. 
Mary  Ann,  b.  29  July  1810. 

James  Odlin,  Martha  H.  Osborne ;  md.  27  Oct.  1816. 
Their  children,  James  William,  b.  3  Nov.  1817. 

George  Osborne,  b.  10  Sept.  1819;  d.  10  Nov.  1820. 
George  Osborne,  b.  26.  Aug.  1823. 
Joseph  Edwin,  b.  20  June  1825. 
Martha  Jewitt,  b.  21  July  1828. 

Nathaniel  Page  md.  21  March  1809   Charlotte  Tilton,  dau.  of  Dr.  Joseph 
Tilton,  b.  1  June  1779. 
Their  children,  Charlotte  Dorothy,  b.  20  Sept.  1809. 
Joseph  Tilton,  b.  29  Nov.  1811. 

Mrs.  Charlotte  Page  d.  17  Aug.  1813. 


■-o^ 


William  Parker  and  Elizabeth  Parker. 

Their  children,  Nathaniel,  b.  East  Kingston  22  Oct.  1760 ;  d.  2  April  1812. 

John  J.,  b.  Exeter  17  Nov.  1770;  d.  5  Oct.  1831. 

Mary  Sewall,  b.  Exeter,  12  Feb.  1772. 

Samuel,  b.  Exeter  16  Aug.  1773. 
Hon.  William  Parker  d.  6  June  1813,  aged  82  jts. 
Mrs  Elizabeth  Parker  d.  7  Oct.  1816,  aged  76  yrs.  6  mos. 

Robert  Parkes,  Dorothy  Gilman;  md.  6  March  1783. 
Their  chikken,  Charles,  b.  1  April  1784  ;  d.  8  May  1841. 
Anne,  b.  15  Sept.  1785;  d.  6  Feb.  1821. 

Thomas  Parsons. 

His  children,  Joseph,  b.  6  Sept.  1762. 
Enoch,  b.  16  June  1764. 
Stephen,  b.  24  April  1766. 

Oliver  Peabody,  Frances  Peabody  ;  md. 
Their  children,  Sarah,  b.  23  Aug,  1783. 

Frances,  b.  15  Nov.  1784;  d.  17  July  1799. 

Lucretia,  b.  4  July  1786. 

Oliver,  b.  11  June  1788  ;  d.  9  Feb.  1793. 

WiUiam  Bourn,  b.  14  March  1790  ;  d.  17  Aug.  1790. 

Deborah  Tasker,  b.  30  April  1793;  d.  12  May  1798. 

Oliver  Wm.  Bourn,  Wm.  Bourn  Oliver  (twins),  b.  19  July 
1799  ;  Oliver  Wm.  Bourn  d.  5  July  1848. 

Edward  Bass,  b.  19  May  1802 ;  d.  4  June  1830. 

Frances  Bourn,  b.  28  July  1804 ;  d.  Sept.  1805. 
Oliver  Peabody  d.  3  Aug.  1831. 


36  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Edmund  Pearson,  son  of  Jethro  Pearson,  b.  26  April   1758,  md.  Dorothy 
Swasey,  dau.  of  Joseph  Swasey,  b.  24  Feb.  1760. 
Their  children,  Dorothy,  b.  8  June  1780. 

James,  b.  24  March  1782  ;  d.  at  sea. 

William,  b.  17  Feb.  1784;  d.  July  1844. 

Fanny,  b.  4  Oct.  1785. 

Edmund,  b.  20  June  1787. 

Mary  Smith,  b.  10  June  1790;  d.  10  Aug.  1844. 

Henrietta,  b.  4  Dec.  1792. 
Mrs.  Dorothy  Pearson  d.  2  Feb.  1820. 
Maj.  Edmund  Pearson  d.  23  Jan.  1842.  I 

Nathaniel  Pearson,  son  of  Edmund  Pearson,  b.  11  Sept.  1797,  md.  21  Oct. 
1821  Caroline  Gerrish,  dau.  of  Timothy  Gerrish  of  Portsmouth,  b.  8 
July  1798. 

Their  childi-en,  Olivia  Gerrish,  b.  18  Oct.  1822. 
Edmund,  b.  18  July  1824. 
Nathaniel,  b.  23  June  1826. 
Augustus  William,  b.  2  April  1830. 

Nathaniel  Pearson,  Sr.,  d.  5  Feb.  1841. 

Nathaniel  Pease,  Phebe  Sanborn;  md.  4  Nov.  1725 
Their  children,  Sarah,  b.  10  July  1726. 
Samuel,  b.  14  Dec.  1727. 
Ann,  b.  17  Nov.  1729. 
Abigail,  b.  28  Jan.  1731-2. 
Beersheba,  b.  16  March  1733-4. 
Phebe,  b.  21  Dec.  1735. 

William  Perry,  b.  Norton,  Mass.,  20  Dec.  1788,  md.  13  April  1818  Abigail 
Oilman,  b.  10  Dec.  1789. 
Their  children,  Caroline  Frances,  b.  11  Dec.  1820. 
William  Oilman,  b.  21  July  1823. 
Abigail  Oilman,  b.  14  Nov.  1824. 
Nathaniel  Oilman,  b.  28  Oct.  1826. 
John  Taylor,  b,  5  April  1832. 

Joseph  Perkins  of  Hampton  Falls   md.  30  Nov.   1825  Elizabeth  Odlin  of 
Exeter. 
Their  childi-en,  Joseph  William,  b.  29  April  1827  ;  d.  24  May  1827. 
Elizabeth  Odlin,  b.  16  Oct.  1828. 
Woodbridge  Odlin,  b.  12  June  1831. 

Samuel  Philbrick,  son  of  Benjamin  Philbrick,  b.  20  April  1759,  md.  Hannah 
Robinson,  dau.  of  John  Robinson  of  Cape  Ann,  b.  26  Aug.  1763. 
Their  children,  Samuel,  b.  12  June  1785. 
Elizabeth,  b.  7  Feb.  1787. 
John  Robinson,  b.  29  Sept.  1789. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  37 

Hannah,  b.  22  Sept.  1791. 
Benjamin,  b.  3  Dec.  1793. 
Joseph,  b.  8  Jan.  1797. 
Mary,  b. 

William,  b.  24  May  1803. 
Mrs.  Hannah  Philbrick  d.  5  Nov.  1810,  aged  47. 
Samuel  Philbrick  md.  (2d)  17  Nov.  1814  Elizabeth  Smith,  dau.  of  Maj. 
Benjamin  Smith. 
Samuel  Philbrick,  Sr.,  d.  10  March  1840. 

John  Phillips,  son  of  Rev.  Samuel  Phillips  of  Andover,  md.  Mrs.  Sarah 
Oilman,  widow  of  Nathaniel  Oilman. 
Mrs.  Sarah  Phillips  d.  Oct.  1765. 
John  Philllips  d.  21  April  1795,  aged  75  yrs.  3  mos. 

William  Pike,  son  of  Joseph  Pike   of  Barnstaple  in  England,  md.  29  July 
1725  Judith  Hilton,  dau.  of  Col.  Winthrop  Hilton  of  Exeter. 
Their  child,  Elizabeth,  b.  22  May  1726. 
AViUiam  Pike  d.  25  Oct.  1726. 
Mrs.  Judith  Pike  md.  (2d)  1  Nov.  1731  EUsha  Odlin,  son  of  Rev.  John 
Odlin. 

Rev.  James  Pike  of  Somersworth  md.  26  Aug.  1730  Sarah  Oilman,  dau.  of 
Nicholas  Oilman. 
Their  child,  Sarah,  b.  13  July  1731. 

Moses  Pike  of  Hampton  Falls  md.  6  April  1791  Theodate  Sanborn. 
Their  children,  Abraham  Sanborn,  b.  5  Dec.  1792. 
Benjamin,  b.  16  April  1794. 
Moses  Hook,  b.  11  March  1796. 
Jonathan,  b.  23  Aug.  1798. 
Levi,  b.  27  May  1801. 
Arvilla,  Adeline,  b.  9  July  1803. 
Hannah  Hook,  b.  23  Oct".  1805. 
John  Kimball,  b.  6  April  1808. 
Mary  Shaw,  b.  13  Oct.  1810. 
Ednah  Dow,  b.  2  July  1813. 
Sarah,  b.  3  March  1816. 

Abraham  S.  Pike,  son  of  Moses  Pike,  b.  Dec.  1792,  md.  11  Sept.  1817  Eliza- 
beth Walton,  dau.  of  Samuel  and  Nancy  Walton  of  Salisbury,  b.  31 
May  1798. 

Their  children,  Elizabeth  Ann,  b.  13  April  1818. 
Samuel  Walton,  b.  8  Feb.  1820. 
Mary  Adeline,  b.  1  April  1823. 

Nathaniel  Prescott,  Sarah  Tuck  ;  md.  4  Feb.  1741-2. 
Their  children,  Nathaniel,  b.  22  April  1743. 


38  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Sarah,  b.  24  Nov.  1745. 
John,  b.  16  Dec.  1747. 
Nathaniel,  b.  6  Aug.  1750. 
Edward,  b.  6  Aug.  1755. 

John  Purmort  of  Newcastle,  b.   13  July  1715,  md.  12  March  1741   Hannah 
Sinclau-  of  Stratham,  b.  25  April  1719. 
Their  childi-en,  John,  b.  11  Oct.  1742. 
Anne,  b.  3  Jan.  1746. 
Hannah,  b.  1  Aug.  1747. 
Joseph,  b.  18  July  1749.  , 

Richard,  b.  16  Feb.  1751. 
Abigail,  b.  16  July  1753  ;  d.  7  Aug.  1754. 
Mark,  b.  29  May  1755 ;  d.  12  July  1776. 
Mary,  Abigail,  b.  22  March  1758. 
John  Purmort  d.  5  Oct.  1758. 

Joseph  Purmort,  b.  18  July  1749,  md.  28  Feb.  1775  Mercy  DoUoff,  b.  6  Dec. 
1752. 
Their  childi'en,  Miriam,  b.  25  Dec.  1775. 
Hannah,  b.  13  May  1777. 
Abner,  b.  13  March  1780. 
John,  b.  24  Oct.  1784. 
Mrs.  Mercy  Purmort  d.  31  Oct.  1784. 

Jonathan  and  Mercy  Quimby. 

Their  chilcb-en,  Sarah,  b.  20  Feb.  1732-3. 
James,  b.  12  April  1736. 
Jonathan,  b.  12  Feb.  1741. 

Samuel  Randall  of  Cape  Ann,  son   of  Jacob  Randall,  md.   16  Jan.  1759 
Abigail  Fafether,  dau.  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  Fafether,  b.  21  Dec. 
1733. 
Their  children,  Abigail,  b.  6  Feb.  1761. 
Susy,  b.  7  Aug.  1762. 

Jacob  Randall,  son  of  Jacob  Randall  of  Portsmouth,  md.  5  June  1787  Anna 
Shute,  dau.  of  Michael  Shute  of  Newmarket,  shipwright. 
Their  childi-en,  Jacob,  b.  25  Dec.  1788. 

Sarah,  b.  6  Oct.  1790. 
Mrs.  Anna  Randall  d.  28  March  1792. 

Jacob  Randall  md.  (2d)  7  Feb.    1793  Rebecca  Masters,  dau.  of  Dr.   John 
Masters  of  Newmarket. 
Their  child,  Anna,  b.  26  May  1794. 

Thomas  Rawlins. 

His  children,  Thomas,  b.  14  July  1671. 
Moses,  b.  14  Oct.  1672. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  39 

Joseph,  b.  6  May  167-. 
Mary,  b.  8  May  167-. 
Benjamin,  b.  6  July  1678. 

Joseph  Rawlins,  son  of  Joseph  and  Hannah  Rawlins,  b.   19  Dec.  1702,  md. 
7  March  1728  Hannah  Redman  of  Hampton. 
Their  children,  Joshua,  b.  4  Oct.  1729. 

Patience,  b.  20  Oct.  1732. 
Eliphalet,  b.  23  July  1734. 
Joseph,  b.  20  Aug.  1737. 

EdAvard  M.  Robinson,  b.  Stratham,  md.  Dover  27  May  1838  Olivia  Jacobs, 
b.  Hope,  Me. 
Then-  children,  Mary  0.,  b.  Exeter  7  Jan.  1839. 
Charles  E.,  b.  Exeter  3  Jan.  1845. 

John  Rice  md.  1  Jan.  1734-5  Anna  Wilson,  dau.  of  Dea.  Thomas  Wilson. 
Their  child,  John,  b.  24  Dec.  1743. 

Jonathan  Robinson. 

His  children,  John,  b.  7  Sept.  1671. 
Sarah,  b.  29  Oct.  1673. 
Hester,  b.  12  Aug.  1677. 
Elizabeth,  b.  6  Sept.  1679. 
Jonathan,  b.  9  July  1681. 
David,  b.  28  July  1684. 
James,  b.  7  Dec.  1686. 
Joseph,  b.  1  May  1690. 

John  Robinson,  Elizabeth  Folsom;  md.  1  Feb.  1725-6. 

Their  children,  Mehitable,  b.  27  March  1729;  d.  12  April  1731. 
Peter,  b.  19  June  1731. 
Elizabeth,  b.  5  Nov.  1734. 
John,  b.  6  Aug.  1736. 
Mehitable,  b.  6  April  1738. 
Catharine,  b.  20  June  1742. 
Daniel,  b.  14  July  1745. 
Mary,  b.  7  Feb.  1748. 
Simeon,  b.  18  Dec.  1752. 


') 


Ephraim  Robinson  and  Mary  Robinson. 
Their  children,  Lydia,  b.  16  Nov.  1735. 
Mary,  b.  9  Feb.  1737-8. 
Elizabeth,  b.  24  May  1740. 
Anne,  b.  7  April  1741-2. 
Ephraim,  b.  19  April  1744. 
Caleb,  b.  22  May  1746. 
Samuel,  b.  17  Dec.  1750. 

Lucia,  b.  25  June  1757 ;  md.  Jonathan  Blake  and  d.  27 
Dec.  1808. 


40  HISTOEY  OF  EXETER. 

Ephraim  Robinson,  son  of  Eplu-aim  and  Marj-  Robinson,  b.  19  April  1744, 
md.   22  Jan.   1767   Deborah   Giddinge,   dau.  of  Zebulon  and  Deborah 
Giddinge,  b.  2  Feb.  1747. 
Their  children,  Ephraim  b.  16  Oct.  1767. 

Mary,  b.  23  Aug.  1770 ;  d.  9  June  1776. 

Zebulon,  b.  2  Sept.  1772 ;  d.  17  June  1776. 

Harriet,  b.  19  June  1774;  d.  14  June  1776. 

Mary,  b.  12  Feb.  1777. 

Zebulon,  b.  14  Feb.  1780. 

Deborah,  b.  26  Jan.  1782  ;  md.  Jotham  Lawrence. 

Harriet,  b.  19  July  1784.  ; 

Elizabeth,  b.  7  Oct.  1786. 

William  Frederick,  b.  11  May  1790;  d.  1  Sept.  1798. 
Ephraim  Robinson  d.  10  April  1809,  aged  65  yrs. 
Mrs.  Deborah  Robinson  d.  2  Aug.  1811,  aged  64  yrs. 

Benjamin  Rogers  and  Margaret  Rogers. 
Their  children,  Susanna,  b.  14  May  1746. 
Abigail,  b.  5  Nov.  1749. 
Dionysius  (dau.),  b.  10  May  1752. 
Mary,  b.  1  Xov.  1755. 

John  Rogers,  b.  Newmarket  2  July  1787,  md.   15  Nov.    1810  Frances  Gil- 
man,  dau.  of  Nathaniel  Oilman,  b.  11  Sept.  1787. 
Their  children,  Nathaniel  Oilman,  b.  25  April  1818. 

John  Francis,  b.  1  Dec.  1819. 
Mrs.  Frances  Rogers  d.  7  April  1821,  aged  33  yrs.  7  mos. 
Col.  John  Rogers  md.  (2d)  8  Sept.  1822  Ann  Oilman. 
Their  children,  Frances  Oilman,  b.  25  Jan.  1824 

Ann  Oilman,  b.  20  May  1825. 
Mrs.  Ann  Rogers  d.  2  Jan.  1827,  aged  31  yrs. 
Col.  John  Rogers  d.  Exeter  22  July  1837,  aged  50  yrs. 

Samuel  Rowe,  son  of  Capt.  Enoch  Rowe  of  Kensington,  md.   15  May  1802 
Olive  Pamdlett,  now  of  Exeter. 
Their  childi-en,  Olivia,  b.  19  Jan.  1803. 
Edward,  b.  11  May  1805. 
James  Samuel,  b.  20  Oct.  1807. 
Samuel  Rowe  d.  23  Sept.  1828,  aged  48  yrs. 

Capt.  Charles  Rundlet  and  Dorothy  Rundlet. 

Their  children,  Dorothy,  b.  8  March  1743.  ^ 

Charles,  b.  2  Dec.  1747. 
Daniel,  b.  5  Aug.  1749. 
Elizabeth,  b.  7  April  1751. 
James,  b.  15  Jan.  1752. 
Jonathan,  b.  5  Feb.  1757. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  41 

Lyclia,  b.  14  Dec.  1758. 

Honor,  b.  29  Nov.  17(30. 

Henry,  b.  17  Oct.  1762. 

Joseph,  b.  13  Sept.  1764;  d.  30  May  1841. 

Josiah,  b.  3  March  1766. 

James  Rundlet,  son  of  James  Rimdlet  of  Exeter,  b.   10  June  1744,  md. 
1  June  1767  Dorothy  Stevens  of  Epping. 
Their  children,  Hannah,  b.  20  Feb.  1768. 

Dorothy,  b.  21  Oct.  1770. 

James,  b.  8  Dec.  1772. 

Edward,  b.  25  Nov.  1774. 

Olive,  b.  7  March  1778 ;  d.  12  April  1778. 

Samuel,  b.  12  April  1779 ;  d.  on  ship  Warren  3  July  1800, 

Olive,  b.  27  April  1782. 

John,  b.  2  Dec.  1787. 

Sarah,  b.  9  April  1789. 

Nathaniel,  b.  8  March  1794. 
Mrs.  Dorothy  Rundlet  d.  29  Sept.  1795. 
James  Rundlet  md.  (2d)  10  Nov.  1796  Sarah  Rust. 

Their  child,  Benjamin,  b.  8  Sept.  1797 ;  d.  18  Sept.  1797. 
James  Rundlet  d.  28  Dec.  1800. 

Dudley   Safford,  b.  15  Nov.  1776,  md.    Betsey  Oilman,   dau.   of  Bradbury 
Oilman  of  Meredith. 
Their  children,  Charles  Oilman,  b.  17  Nov.  1804. 

Benjamin,  b.  23  May  1806. 

Hannah  Oilman,  b.  1  Feb.  1807. 

Sophia,  b.  29  July  1809. 

Oliver,  b.  21  July  1811. 

Frances,  b.  19  Feb.  1813. 

James  Oilman,  b.  6  April  1815;  d.  21  Dec.  1815. 

Sophronia,  b  9  Dec.  1816. 

Hem-y,  b.  10  Oct.  1819. 

Elizabeth  Ann,  b.  2  July  1822. 
Dudley  Safford  d.  18  July  1822. 

William   Sanborn   of  Exeter    md.    2    Sept.    1731   Elizabeth  Dearborn    of 
Hampton. 
Their  children,  Simon,  b.  28  Sept.  1736. 

Elizabeth,  b.  25  Aug.  1738. 
Hannah,  b.  30  March  1740. 
William,  b.  9  Feb.  1741-2. 
Henry  Dearborn,  b.  23  Dec.  1743. 
Mary,  b.  19  Sept.  1745. 
Josiah,  b.  19  June  1747. 
Sarah,  b.  12  May  1749. 
Anne,  b.  15  Aug.  1751. 


42  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Theodate,  b.  30  Aug.  1753. 
Abigail,  b.  3  Oct.  1755. 

Josiah  Sanborn,  Deborah  Bowden;  md.  8  April  1770. 
Their  children,  Josiah,  b.  9  Nov.  1771. 
John,  b.  21  Sept.  1773. 

Edward  Sewall. 

His  chikh-en,  Sarah,  b.  17  Sept.  1676. 

Thomas,  b.  28  March  1679. 
Joseph,  b.  28  Dec.  1681.  | 

Benjamin  Pearse  Sheriff,  b.  10  July  1763,  md.  12  Aug.  1788  Martha  Oilman, 
b.  14  June  1768. 
Their  children,  Abigail,  b.  24  Sept.  1789. 

Benjamin  D.,  b.  30  Dec.  1791. 
Henry  A.,  b.  25  Oct.  1793. 
Charles  C,  b.  8  Feb.  1795. 
Frederick,  b.  12  May  1797. 
Martha  Oilman,  b.  io  Sept.  1799. 
Sarah,  b.  6  March  1803. 
John  Langdon,  b.  18  Nov.  1804. 
Susannah,  b.  24  Oct.  1806. 
John  Langdon,  b.  16  Aug.  1808. 
Mary,  b.  16  May  1810. 

Henry  Shute,  b.  Newmarket  18  April    1794,  md.    27   Feb.  1820  Eliza  R. 
Smith,  b.  Exeter  7  Feb.  1800. 
Their  chilcben.  Henry  Augustus,  b.  18  June  1821  ;  d.  18  Dec.  1841. 
Ann  Eliza,  b.  15  Nov.  1824  ;  d.  25  May  1858. 
Oeorge  Smith,  b.  2  March  1827. 
Sai-ah  Frances,  b.  26  May  1831. 

John  Sinclair. 

His  children,  James,  b.  27  July  1660. 
Mary,  b.  27  June  1663. 
Sarah,  b.  15  Sept.  1664. 

Jonathan   Fifield  Sleeper  md.  20   Nov.  1791  Dorothy  Tilton,  dau.  of  Dr. 
Joseph  Tilton,  b.  20  April  1770. 
Their  children,  Elizabeth  Jewett,  b.  28  June  1792. 
John  S.,  b.  25  Sept.  1794. 
Charles  T.,  b.  24  Aug.  1796  ;  d.  8  March  1818. 
Catharine  Parker,  b.  19  March  1804. 
Jonathan  Fifield  Sleeper  d.  16  Dec.  1805,  aged  38  jts. 
Mrs.  Dorothy  Sleeper  d.  27  May  1809. 

John  Sherburne  Sleeper,  b.  25  Sept.  1794,  md.  22  Feb.  1826  Mary  Folsom 
Noble. 


HISTOKY  OF  EXETER.  43 

Their  childi-en,  Charles  Frederick,  b.  27  Dec.  1826. 

Ariana  Elizabeth  Smith,  b.  9  July  1829. 
John  Howai-d,  b.  24  Dec.  1831. 

Nicholas  Smith. 

His  children,  Nathaniel,  b.  9  June  1660. 
Nicholas,  b.  3  Sept.  1661. 
Anne,  b.  8  Feb.  1663. 
Theophilus,  b.  14  Feb.  1667. 

Edward  Smith,  Mary ;  md.  13  Jan.  1668-9. 

Jonathan  Smith. 

His  children,  Israel,  b.  16  Jan.  1670-1. 
Jacob,  b.  10  Aug.  1673. 
Joseph,  b.  7  Feb.  1680. 
Leah,  b.  7  April  1683. 
Mehitabel,  b.  14  Aug.  1685. 

Jonathan  Smith,  Mary  Ames  ;  md.  17  March  1713-4. 
Their  children,  Jonathan,  b.  9  Jan.  1714-5. 

Mary,  b.  21  Feb.  1716-7. 
Mrs.  Mary  Smith  d.  21  Dec.  1717. 
Jonathan  Smith  md.  (2d)  11  Aug.  1719  Bridget  Keniston. 
Their  childi'en,  Abraham,  b.  1  June  1720. 

Lydia,  b.  20  June  1722. 

Isaac,  b.  22  May  1724. 

Elizabeth,  Abigail,  b.  25  Feb.  1725-6. 

Hepzibah,  b.  23  July  1727. 

Jacob,  b.  12  March  1728-9. 

Obadiah,  b.  26  March  1731. 

Deborah,  b.  23  Feb.  1732-3. 

John  Walch-on,  b.  8  Dec.  1735. 

Caleb,  b.  4  March  1736-7. 

Bridget,  b.  16  Feb.  1738-9. 

Nathan,  b.  7  May  1741. 

Nathaniel  Smith,  son  of  Nicholas  Smith,  b.  15  Sept.  1695. 
His  children,  Mary,  b.  7  Dec.  1721. 

Nathaniel,  b.  17  April  1725. 
Patience,  b.  24  Nov.  1727. 
Daniel,  b.  13  April  1730. 
Elizabeth,  b.  24  Feb.  1731-2. 
Sarah,  b.  1  March  1733-4. 
Anna,  b.  7  May  1740. 

Benjamin  Smith  md.  24  Jan.  1760  Mary  Swasey,  both  of  Exeter. 


44  HISTOKY  OF  EXETER. 

Their  children,  Mary,  b.  16  Oct.  1760  ;  cl.  8  April  1790. 

Joseph,  b.  19  July  1763. 

Sarah,  b.  15  Dec.  1766. 

Benjamin,  b.  21  April  1767  ;  d.  8  April  1790. 

Elizabeth,  b.  6  Sept.  1769. 

Sally,  b.  6  Dec.  1771 ;  d.  3  July  1787. 

Susanna,  b.  8  Jan.  1774. 

John,  b.  6  Dec.  1777. 

John,  b.  19  Oct.  1778. 

Charlotte,  b.  9  April  1780. 
Major  Benjamin  Smith  d.  23  June  1811,  aged  74  yrs. 
Mrs.  Mary  Smith  d.  Nov.  1814. 

Joseph  Smith,  Polly  Burley;  md.  13  Nov.  1786. 
Their  children,  John,  b.  10  Oct.  1787. 
Mary,  b.  18  Nov.  1792. 
Fanny,  b.  2  April  1798. 
Sophia,  b.  18  Sept.  1799. 

Jeremiah  Smith,  then  of  Peterborough,  N.  H.,  md.  8  March  1797  Elizabeth 
Ross  of  Bladensburgh,  Md. 

Their  children,  Ariana  Elizabeth,  b.  28  Dec.  1797  ;  d.  20  June  1829. 

William,  b.  31  Aug.  1799. 

Jeremiah,  b.  20  Aug.  1802 ;  drowned  14  Oct.  1808. 
Mrs  Elizabeth  Smith  d.  19  June  1827. 
Hon.  Jeremiah  Smith  d.  Dover  21  Sept.  1842. 

Samuel  Somerby  and  Hannah  Somerby. 

Their  children,  Mary  Ann  Montgomery,  d.  4   Jan.   1821,  aged  5   mos.  11 
days. 
George  Adolphus,  b.  2  Nov.  1821. 
Samuel  Somerby  d.  17  May  1824,  aged  42  jts. 

Thomas  Sullivan,  Frances  A.  Leavitt;  md.  7  Oct.  1836. 
Their  children,  Frances  E.,  b.  18  March  1837. 
Mary  H.,  b.  21  Jan.  1839. 
Charles  W.,  b.  6  July  1841. 
George  E.,  b.  26  Oct.  1843. 
Heni-y  G.,  b.  18  July  1846. 

Richard  \Yenman  Swan,  b.  New  York  City,  md.   18  Dec.   1845  Katharine 
Day,  b.  South  Hadley  Falls,  Mass. 
Their  children,  Mary  Hale,  b.  24  July  1847. 
Richard  H.,  b.  27  July  1848. 

Joseph  Swasey,  Apphia  Morrill ;  md.  13  Dec.  1735. 
Their  children,  Mary,  b.  15  Oct.  1737. 

Joseph,  b.  20  May  1743  ;  d.  8  Jan.  1829. 


HISTORY  or  EXETER.  45 

Joseph  Swasey,  Jr.,  b.  30  May  1743,  md.  10  March  11G5  Olive  Lamson,  b.  6 
Sept.  1744. 
Their  children,  Olive,  b.   11  Jan.  1766;  d.   16  Oct.   1821,  widow  of  Ep. 
Dean. 
Joseph,  b.  12  Feb.  176S ;  d.  18  May  1820. 
Nathaniel,  b.  26  March  1770  ;  d.  Sept.  1840. 
Lucretia,  b.  23  Oct.  1772 ;  d.  Sept.  1837. 
William,  b.  10  March  1778  ;  d.  2-5  Dec.  1835. 
Susanna,  b.  20  July  1780;  d.  17  May  1840. 
Lydia,  b.  15  Jan.  1783. 
Harriot,  b.  28  July  1785. 
Rufus,  b.  16  April  1788  ;  d.  in  Boston  1840. 

Mrs.  Olive  Swasey  d.  16  Jan.  1822. 
Capt.  Joseph  Swasey  d.  8  Jan.  1829. 

Moses  Swett  and  Hannah  Swett. 

Their  children,  Josiah,  b.  31  July  1743. 
John,  b.  17  Dec.  "l  748. 

Samuel  B.  Swett,  M.  D.,  Mary  S.  Lowe ;  md.  4  Sept.  1845. 
Their  child,  Samuel,  b.  16  June  1846. 

William  Tarbox  and  Dolly  Tarbox. 

Their  child,  Edwin  Hill,  b.  Exeter  4  Aug.  1819  ;  d.  28  Jan.  1821. 

Oxford  Tash  and  Esther  Tash. 

Their  children,  Mary,  b.  Exeter  14  March  1784  ;  d.  20  July  1819. 

Lucy,  b.  Exeter  6  April  1786  ;  d.  23  Nov.  1812. 

Susan,  b.  Exeter  3  July  1788. 

Robert,  b.  Exeter  3  Sept.  1790. 

Catherine,  b.  Exeter  25  July  1792. 

Charles  G.,  b.  Exeter  9  Dec.  1794;  d.  11  June  1864. 

William  G.,  b.  Exeter  9  March  1797. 

Member  Matilda,  b.  Exeter  25  July  1799. 
Oxford  Tash  d.  15  Oct.  1810. 
Mrs.  Esther  Tash  d.  26  March  1844,  aged  87  yrs. 

William  Taylor. 

His  children,  Mary,  b.  26  Oct.  1667. 
Nathan,  b.  5  Feb.  1674. 

Jonathan  Thing  and  Joanna  Thing. 

Their  children,  Elizabeth,  b.  5  June  1664. 

John,  b.  20  Sept.  1665  ;  d.  4  Nov.  1665. 
Samuel,  b.  3  June  1667. 
Mercy,  b.  6  March  1673. 
Jonathan,  b.  21  Sept.  1678. 


46  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Capt.  Jonathan  Thing  md.  26  July   1677  Mary  Oilman,  dau.  of  Hon.  John 
Oilman,  b.  10  Sept.  1658. 
Their  children,  Jonathan,  b.  21  Sept.  1678. 
John,  b.  June  1680. 
Bartholomew,  b.  25  Feb.  1681-2. 
Joseph,  b.  March  1684. 
Elizabeth,  b. 

Benjamin,  b.  12  Nov.  1688. 
Josiah,  b. 

Mrs.  Mary  Thing  d.  Aug.  1691. 

Capt.  Jonathan  Thing  md.  (2d)  July  1693  Martha  lAViggin,  widow  of  Thomas 
Wiggin  and  dau.  of  John  Denison  of  Ipswich. 
Their  child,  Daniel,  b.  12  May  1694. 
Capt.  Jonathan  Thing  d.  31  Oct.  1694. 

Samuel  Thing,  Abigail  Oilman;  md.  8  July  1696. 
Their  children,  Joanna,  b.  22  June  1697. 
Samuel,  b.  28  March  1699. 
Abigail,  b.  1  Dec.  1700. 
Elizabeth,  b.  19  Dec.  1702. 
Sarah,  b.  8  Jan.  1704-5. 
Lydia,  Deborah,  b.  14  Feb.  1707-8. 
Catharine,  b.  19  May  1711. 
Josiah,  b.  15  Sept.  1713. 
John,  b.  17  May  1716. 
Mary,  b.  18  May  1718. 
Alice,  b.  14  Feb.  1722-3. 

Bartholomew  Thing  md.  7  Dec.  1705  Abigail  Coffin,  dau.  of  Tristram  Coffin. 
Their  childi-en,  Tristram,  b.  26  Oct.  1707  ;  d.  22  June  1709. 

Josiah,  b.  18  Aug.  1710  ;  d.  5  March  1710-1. 
Mrs.  Abigail  Thing  d.  2  May  1711. 

Bartholomew  Thing  md.  (2d)  3  April  1712  Mrs.  Sarah  Kent,  widow  of  John 
Kent  and  dau.  of  Capt.  Joseph  Little  of  Newbury. 
Their  child,  Mary,  b.  3  Jan.  1712-3. 
Bartholomew  Thing  d.  28  April  1738,  aged  57. 

Benjamin  Thing  md.  Jan.  1711-2  Pernal  Coffin,  dau.  of  Tristram  Coffin. 
Their  children,  Coffin,  b.  Sept.  1713. 

Deborah,  b.  29  April  1719. 

Mrs.  Pernal  Thing  d.  2  June  1725. 
Benjamin  Thing  md.   (2d)   21   Oct.    1725  Mrs.  Deborah  Thing,  widow  of 
Samuel  Thing. 
Their  childi-en,  Pernal,  b.  29  July  1726. 

Winthrop,  b.  10  Jan.  1727-8. 
Mary,  b.  24  May  1730. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  47 

Anna,  b.  18  Oct.  1732. 
Samuel,  b.  13  Dec.  1735. 
Elizabeth,  b.  2  Sept.  1740. 

Daniel  Thing  md.  3  March  1717-8  Elizabeth  Clark,  dan.  of  Henry  Clark 
of  Newbury. 
Their  children,  Elizabeth,  b.  13  Aug.  1719  ;  d.  27  Oct.  1719. 
Stephen,  b.  28  Sept.  1720. 
Martha,  b.  2  Jan.  1722-3, 
Bartholomew,  b.  4  Aug.  1725. 
Eunice,  b.  15  Oct.  1727  ;  d.  Oct.  1813. 

Samuel   Thing,   son  of  Samuel   Thing,   Esq.,  md.    26   Dec.   1722  Deborah 
Hilton,  dau.  of  Col.  Winthrop  Hilton. 
Their  child,  Samuel,  b.  9  Oct.  1723 ;  d.  14  March  1723-4. 
Samuel  Thing  d.  Sept.  1723. 

Stephen  Thing  md.  6  July   1768  Mehitable  Connor,  dau.  of  Lieut.  Jonathan 
and  Mehitable  Connor. 
Their  child,  Betsey,  b.  5  Jan.  1773. 
Stephen  Thing  d.  20  Sept.  aged  70  yrs.  11  mos.  18  days, 

John  Thompson,  Anne  Miller  ;  md.  26  Dec.  1750. 
Their  child,  Joseph  Miller,  b.  12  Nov.  1751. 

Daniel  Thurston,  b.  6  Aug.  1776,  md.  4  Aug.  1798  Deborah  Folsom,  b.  29 
April  1778. 
Their  children,  Elizabeth  Oilman,  b.  6  Nov.  1798;  d.  1820. 
Mary  Jane,  b.  3  Sept.  1801 ;  d. 
Mary  Jane,  b.  15  June  1804, 

John  Tilton,   son   of  Samuel  Tilton  of  Hampton  Falls,   md.  30  June  1791 
Patty  Odlin,  dau,  of  Winthrop  Odlin  of  Exeter. 
Their  childi-en,  John  Folsom,  b.  8  Dec.  1792. 
Ebenezer,  b.  29  Dec.  1795, 
Samuel,  b.  28  Nov.  1797. 
Winthrop  Odlin,  b.  7  March  1800. 
Amy  Folsom,  b.  3  May  1802. 
William,  b.  26  July  1804. 
Elizabeth,  b.  18  Aug.  1806, 
Joseph,  b.  22  July  1809. 
Sarah  Ann,  b.  1  Aug.  1813  ;  d.  1814. 
Mrs.  Patty  Tilton  d.  7  Sept.  1823. 

Dr.   Joseph    Tilton,   b.   Hampton  Falls  25   Sept.   1744,   md.    10  Sept.  1767 
Catharine  Shackford,  b.  Portsmouth  12  Oct.  1745, 
Their  children,  Catharine,  b.  18   Sept.  1768 ;  md.   Nathaniel  Parker  Nov. 
1793. 


48  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Dorothy,  b.  20  April  1770;  md.  J.  F.  Sleeper  20  Nov.  1791. 

John  Shackford,  b.  5  Oct.   1772;  lost  at  sea  26  or  27  Oct. 
1810. 

Joseph,  b.  15  April  1776  ;  d.  13  Sept.  1777. 

Charlotte,  b.  1  June  1779  ;  md.  Nathaniel  Page. 

Caroline,  b.  30  May  1781 ;  md.  Robert  Cross  of  Portland. 
'Mrs.  Catharine  Tilton  d.  19  Jan.  1812. 
Dr.  Joseph  Tilton  d.  5  Dec.  1837. 

Oliver  Towle,  b.  Hampton  2  March  1783,  md.  2  April  1806  Betsey  Leavitt, 
b.  Hampton  26  Sept.  1785. 
Their  children,  Oliver,  b.  16  Oct.  1806  ;  d.  20  Oct.  1809. 
Mary  G.,  b.  24  Dec.  1807. 
Oliver,  Jr.,  b.  13  Jan.  1810. 
Enoch  W.,b.  15  June  1811. 
Betsey,  b.  26  Oct.  1814 ;  d.  2  April  1817. 
Angelina,  b.  4  June  1816. 
Betsey  L.,  b.  22  Nov.  1820. 
Amos,  b.  23  July  1823. 
Adoniram  J.,  b.  26  June  1827. 
Emily  B.,  b.  2  June  1829  ;  d.  11  March  1848. 

Henry  Wadleigh,  Elizabeth  Ladd;  md.  3  Dec.  1693. 
Their  children,  Sarah,  b.  3  Sept.  1694. 

Abigail,  b.  2  Sept.  1696. 

Joseph,  b.  Sept.  1698. 

Martha,  b.  Jan.  1700-1. 

Benjamin,  b.  1703  ;  d.  1716. 
Henry  Wadleigh  d.  2  Aug.  1732. 

Joseph  Wadleigh,  son  of  Robert   Wadleigh,  b.  7    Sept.  1711,  md.  5  Jan. 
1737-8  Ann  Swain. 
Their  children,  Hannah,  b.  1  Aug.  1739. 
Sarah,  b.  29  Nov.  1741. 
Joseph,  b.  3  Nov.  1743. 
Anna,  b.  17  Jan.  1745-6. 
Rachel,  b.  3  Feb.  1747. 

Herbert  Waters,  Mary  Harris  ;  md.  13  Nov.  1733. 
Their  child,  Herbert  (daughter),  b.  8  Aug.  1735. 

Humphrey  Wilson. 
His  children,  Judith,  b.  8  Nov.  16S4 ;  d.  3  May  1667. 
Elizabeth,  b.  11  Jan.  1665. 
John,  b.  17  July  1667. 
Hannah,  b.  12  Nov,  1670. 
Thomas,  b.  20  May  1672. 
James,  b.  27  Aug.  1673. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  49 

Thomas  Wilson,  Mary  Light ;  md.  Oct. 
Their  children,  Humphrey,  b.  9  Dec.  1699. 
Rebecca,  i).  18  Nov.  1701. 
Anna,  b.  18  June  1703. 
John,  Thomas,  b.  3  Nov.  1704. 
John,  b.  7  Jan  1705-6. 
Sai'ah,  b.  26  Sept.  1707. 
Joshua,  b.  3  Sept.  1708. 
Sarah,  b.  23  Nov.  1709. 
Mary,b.  19  Sept.  1711. 
Jabez,  b.  1  June  1712  ;  d.  same  day. 
Jonathan,  b.  4  Sept.  1713. 
Moses,  b.  1  May  1715. 
Judith,  b.  18  Feb.  1717-8. 

Samuel  D.  "Wingate,  b.  Strathani,  md.  8  Feb  1854  Orianna  Mitchell. 
Their  chikh'en,  James  D.  P.,  b  2  April  1855. 
Charles  E.  L.,  b.  14  Feb.  1861. 

Samuel  Winslow,  Sarah  Johnson ;  md. 

Their  children,  Samuel,  b.  Exeter  8  Feb.  1795. 

George,  b.  Exeter  7  May  1796  ;  drowned  27  Aug.  1812. 
Jonathan,  b.  Exeter  4  Nov.  1797. 

William  Woodbridge,  b.  Glastonbury,  Conn.,  md.  5  April  1785  Elizabeth 
Bi'ooks,  dau.  of  Samuel  Brooks  of  Exeter. 
Their  childx-en,  Elizabeth,  b.  27  June  1786. 

Mary,  b.  27  June  1786;  d.  6  Aug.  1786. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Woodbridge  d.  16  Nov.  1787. 

Jonathan  Young,  son  of  Robert  Young,  b.  22  Nov.  1712,  md.  11  April  1738 
Abigail  Scribner,  dau.  of  John  Scribner,  b.  30  March  1717. 
Their  children,  John,  b.  1  April  1739. 
Anna,  b.  28  June  1741. 
Daniel,  b.  17  Sept.  1743. 
Abigail,  baptized  12  Oct.  1746. 
Joseph,  b.  18  Sept.  1748. 
Benjamin,  b.  1  Nov.  1750. 
Sarah,  b.  15  Oct.  1752. 
Hannah,  b.  18  Oct.  1755. 
Abigail,  b.  5  July  1759. 


4a 


MARRIAGES. 

FROM  THE  EXETER  RECORDS. 

EdAvard  Arm,  Joanna  Meloney ;  13  Jan.  1782. 
Benjamin  Abbot,  Hannah  Tracy  Emery;  .30  Oct.  1791. 
Samuel  Aijfcdent,  Jerusha  Daniels  ;   10  July  1800. 
Moses  Atkinson,  .3d,  Newbury,  Charlotte  Dutch;  5  June  1S08. 
Richard  Alley,  Elizabeth  A.  Weeks ;  21  Oct.  1823. 
Obed  E.  Adams,  Dover,  Selina  Burley  ;  5  June  182.5. 
SAveen  Anderson,  Charlestown,  Mass.,  Lydia  Barker;  June  1830. 
Landen  Adams,  Lowell,  ^Slary  F.  Leavitt ;  27  Nov.  1834. 
Monroe  Ayer,  Haverhill,  Hannah  M.  W.  Proal ;  9  Oct.  1838. 
Francis  Bowden,  Elizabeth  Webster;  18  Feb.  1734-5. 
Jonathan  Blake,  Lucey  Robinson. 
Samuel  Brooks,  Jr.,  Mary  Giddinge;   14  Dec.  1779. 
Benjamin  Bod{,'e,  Meribah  Hall ;  19  Oct.  1780. 
Michael  Brown,  Ruth  Allerd  ;  9  Sept.  1781. 
Laurence  Batson,  Anne  Creighton ;  1  Nov.  1 783. 
John  Brooks,  Elizabeth  Mash  ;   17  April  1785. 
Joshua  Bangs,  Anne  B.  Folsom ;  28  Feb.  1786. 
Shackford  S.  Bennett,  Mehitable  Giddinge  :  18  Dec.  1788. 
Noah  Barker,  Mary  Philbrick  ;  7  Oct.  1789. 

Nathaniel  Batchelder,  Roxbury,  Elizabeth  Mudget ;  25  March  179!). 
Joshua  Blanchard,  Ruhannah  Lovering  ;  14  Jan.  1793. 
John  Batchelder,  Rachel  Moore  ;  14  May  1793. 
Joseph  Blanchard,  Chester,  Mrs.  Dorothy  Folsom;   1  April  1794. 
John  Bickford,  Phebe  McCoy;  24  Dec.  1794. 

James  Bracket,  Jr.,  Quincy,  Mass.,  Elizabeth  Odiorne;  7  Oct.  1795. 
Benjamin  Boardman,  Sarah  Haven  ;  30  Nov.  1795. 
Samuel  Brooks,  Tirzah  James  ;  6  Dec.  1795. 
Reuben  Byram,  North  Yarmouth,  Lois  Swasey ;  11  Feb.  1808. 
Amos  Blanchard,  Lydia  Boardman  ;   12  March  1809. 
Allen  Bastow,  North  Yarmouth,  Mary  Swasey  ;   12  Aug.  1810. 
James  Burley,  Charlotte  Oilman;  June  1811. 

Rev.  Abraham  Burnham,  Pembroke,  Elizabeth  Robinson;   19  Nov.  1816. 
James  Burley,  Mrs.  Harriet  L.  Gale;  17  May  1818. 
Abel  Brown,  East  Kingston,  Elizabeth  P.  Dean  ;  8  June  1818, 
John  S.  Beardslee,  Hannah  Hayes ;  4  June  1820. 
Moses  P.  Bickford,  Eunice  Burpee;  9  Nov.  1820. 
NathanieJ  R.  Burleigh,  Mary  Jane  Odiorne  :  .30  June  1823. 

50 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  51 

Joseph  Boardnian,  Lydia  L.  Oilman;  16  Sept.  1823. 

Dudley  Beckett,  ^Slary  A.  Marsh,  Xorth  Hampton ;   1  Aug.  1828. 

Joseph  A.  Bailey,  Dartmouth,  Clarissa  Clifford  ;  7  Nov.  1827. 

John  T.  Blake,  Kensington,  Mary  E.  Moulton ;  1  Feb.  1829. 

Andrew  Baker,  Xewmarket,  ]\Iary  J.  Sawyer ;  Xov.  1832. 

Alfred  M.  Beck,  Elizabeth  S.  Gilman  ;  29  Oct.   1832. 

Josiah  Blake,  Sophia  Smith ;   13  Nov.  1832. 

Oliver  S.  Bowley,  Pamelia  Leathers  ;  5  Xov.  1833. 

Joseph  Boardman,  Sarah  A.  Smith  ;   16  Dec.  1833. 

Stephen  J.  Batchelder,  Sarah  A.  Hale  ;   14  April  1834. 

Thomas  H.  Bartlett,  Xancy  L.  Hayes  ;  28  Aug.  1836. 

William  G.  Bragdon,  Boston,  Mary  W.  Folsom  ;   1  Jan.  1837. 

Philip  Carty,  Elizabeth  York  ;  23  Sept.  1668. 

Jacob  Carter,  Abigail  Steel;  13  Jan.  1777. 

Casar  Clough,  Priscilla  Glasgo  (negroes) ;  9  Dec.  1777. 

Moses  Clark,  Deerfield,  Anna  Loverain ;  8  March  1781. 

Jonathan  Cass,  Mary  Gilman;  20  Dec.  1781. 

Samuel  Chamberlain,  Mary  Tilton;  30  Sept.  1783. 

Dudley  Cram,  Sanbornton,  Mary  Rundlet;  21  Dec.  1783. 

Ephraim  Currier,  Abigail  Hackett ;  27  June  1784. 

Samuel  Colcord,  Anne  Gilman;  21  April  1785. 

Timothy  Chamberlain,  Esther  Moses;  24  Sept.  1786. 

Isaac  Currier,  Sarah  Lamson;  21  Nov.  1788. 

Tobias  Cutler,  Dolly  Pauls,  Stratham  ;  15  Jan.  1790. 

John  Caldwell,  Polly  Oilman;  10  April  1791. 

Bradbury  Cilley,  Xottingham,  Martha  Poor;  19  Nov.  1792. 

Harvey  Colcord,  Polly  Wiggin.  Stratham  ;  20  Oct.  1795. 

Joseph  Coomes,  Stratham,  Abigail  Godfrey;  9  April  1799. 

George  Colcord,  Joanna  Jones  ;  19  Dec.  1801. 

Jedediah  Conner,  Elizabeth  Jenkins;  17  April  1801. 

Rev.  Jacob  Cram,  Hampton  Falls,  Mary  Poor ;  13  Sept  1804. 

Gideon  Carter,  Hannah  Gilman ;  22  Sept  1804. 

AVilliam  S.  Chase,  JJeerfield,  Xancy  Sanborn;  28  Xov.  1805. 

Robert  Cross,  Portland,  Caroline  Tilton ;  5  Oct.  1807. 

Samuel  Lee  Count,  Deborah  Leavitt ;  10  Sept.  1809. 

Jedediah  Conner,  Abigail  Gilman;  29  Dec.  1811. 

Thomas  Colcord,  Judith  Wiggins  ;  23  May  1812. 

Jacob  Carter,  Jr.,  Mrs.  Nancy  Davis  ;  4  March  1814. 

Andrew  Cook,  Madbury,  Harriet  Speed;  1  Dec.  1814. 

Benjamin  Clark,  Xancy  Lougee ;  22  Oct.  1815. 

James  Conner,  Berwick,  Caroline  Xelson;  31  Oct.  1815. 

Joshua  Coffin,  Haverhill,  Clarissa  Dutch  ;  2  Dec.  1817. 

Rufus  E.  Cutler,  Dinah  Cilley  ;  25  March  1823. 

Charles  Carter,  Wakefield,  Mandana  Safford ;   15  June  1822. 

John  Cook,  Martha  T.  Smart ;  2  Jan.  1823. 

William  H.  Clark,  Sarah  Hilton;  16  Feb.  1825. 

William  T.  Choate,  Sarah  AY.  Levering ;  4  Dec.  1825. 

Henry  Chew,  Windham,  Xancy  J.  Whitefield  ;  10  Xov.  1827. 


52  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

William  Conner,  Betsy  Lyford;  Sept.  1832. 

William  Cutts,  Betsy  Swasey ;  IS  Nov.  1830. 

Enoch  G.  Currier,  Newmarket,  Jane  Hill;  March  1830. 

Nathaniel  Conner,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Palmer;  22  Jan.  1833. 

Samuel  Cutler,  Portland,  Elizabeth  D.  Gardner  ;  19  June  1833. 

Aretus  Chandler,  Lydia  York,  Brentwood;  1  Jan.  1834. 

Horatio  L.  Cowles,  Williamsburg,  Mass.,  Sarah  A.  Gordon ;   18  Jan.  1837. 

Samuel  Colcord,  Sophia  Norwood;  12  April  1838. 

Andrew  H.  Collins,  Kensington,  Abigail  Brown ;  30  Dec.  1838. 

Byley  Dudley,  Elizabeth  Gilman  ;  25  Oct.  1682. 

Jonathan  Dolhoof,  Mary  Young;  17  Nov.  1737.    , 

Lemuel  Davis,  Eleanor  Dearing;  20  March  1780. 

Lenon  Daily,  Margaret (negroes) ;  11  March  1781. 

Thomas  Dean,  Lucretia  Coffin;  13  April  1781. 

Samuel  Daniels,  Sarah  Taylor  ;  24  Oct.  1781. 

Minus  Daniels,  Elizabeth  Taylor;  11  Nov.  1784. 

Eliphalet  Dean,  Olive  Swasey  ;  17  Jan.  1785. 

Abner  DoUoof,  Irene  Smith,  Brentwood;  22  March  1787. 

Cepio  Duce,  Phillis  Folsom;  29  Nov.  1787. 

Robert  Duce,  Lois  Straits  ;  21  June  1790. 

Samuel  T.  Dudley,  Abigail  Randel ;  21  Nov.  1791. 

Samuel  Densmore,  Ossipee,  Sally  Wallace;  Nov.  15,  1792. 
•  John  Dennett,  Portsmouth,  Elizabeth  Lamson;  3  Feb.  1798. 

Benjamin  Dodge,  Portland,  Abigail  Gilman;  16  April  1797. 

John  Dean,  Jr.,  Anne  Boardman;  11  May  1799. 

Samuel  Dodge,  Fanny  Pearson;  30  June  1812. 

John  Daniels,  Eunice  Kelly  ;  7  Dec.  1814. 

William  H.  Dickey,  Ehzabeth  Locke  ;  23  Oct.  1816. 

Andrew  Dorsey,  Nancy  G.  Duce  ;  31  Aug.  1817. 

William  C.  Dolloff,  Betsy  Leavitt ;  13  Nov.  1817. 

Thomas  Dean,  Catharine  Gilman ;  26  Sept.  1824. 

Nathaniel  Dean,  Elizabeth  Gilman;  25  June  1826. 

Josiah  Dudley,  Sarah  Robinson  ;  27  Sept.  1827. 

Samuel  Durant,  Susan  Daniels  ;   IS  Oct.  1829. 

Charles  H.  Dunbar,  Haverhill,  Mass.,  Mary  B.  Leavitt;  March  1830. 

Charles  H.  Daniels,  Nancy  M.  Purington  ;  8  Nov.  1841. 

Joseph  Eldridge,  Abigail  Hall ;  8  Oct.  1781. 

Richard  Emery,  Liberty  Hale  ;   14  Nov.  1784. 

John  Emery,  Deborah  Webb;  11  Jan.  1802. 

Samuel  Endicott,  Beverly,  Mass.,  Sarah  F.  Holt;  4  June  1826. 
Kimball  Eastman,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  Mary  Wentworth ;  10  Jan.  1829. 

James  Foulsam,  Elizabeth  Thing;  18  June  1735. 

Seth  Fogg,  Elizabeth  Marshall;  7  Dec.  1779. 

Samuel  Folsom,  Elizabeth  Emery;  30  April  1780. 
David  Fogg,  Katherine  Johnson;  8  Nov.  1780. 
Theophilus  Folsom,  Sarah  Fogg;  12  Dec.  1780. 
Jonathan  Folsom,  Lydia  Folsom  ;  29  March  1781. 

Fortune  Fogg,  Lucy  Hale  ;   15  July  1781. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  53 

Stephen  Fogg,  Mary  Filler  ;  2  May  1782. 

Stephen  Fogg,  Sarah  Marsh;   1  Sept.  1782. 

Mark  Fifield,  Stratham,  Deborah  Young;  16  Aug.  1783. 

James  Folsom,  Jr.,  Mary  Folsom;  2  Dec.  1784. 

James  Folsom,  4th,  Sarah  Oilman;   15  Oct.  1786. 

James  Folsom,  3cl,  Sarah  Robinson;  31  Dec.  1786. 

Dearborn  Fogg,  North  Hampton,  Dorothy  Rundlet ;  5  Sept.  1787. 

Joseph  Flood,  Elizabeth  x\kers  ;  17  Aug.  1789. 

Robert  L.  Fowle,  Mrs.  Sarah  Fowle  ;  6  Aug.  1789. 

Stephen  Fogg,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Grant ;  3  April  1790. 

John  Fogg,  Mary  Grant;  13  Nov.  1791. 

James  French,  Epping,  Mehitable  Moody,  Brentwood  ;  27  Jan.  1792. 

Stephen  Fogg,  Jr.,  Anne  Batchelder;  29  Sept.  1793. 

Dudley  Folsom,  Lucretia  Swasey  ;  17  Jan.  1796. 

Richard  Fuller,  Elizabeth  Fowler;  5  June  1796. 

George  Fuller,  Jr.,  Nancy  York,  Brentwood  ;  26  April  1797. 

John  Folsom,  Jr.,  Newmarket,  Anne  Odlin;  22  March  1798. 

Nathaniel  Folsom,  Hallowell,  Mary  Bond;  6  Nov.  1800. 

David  Fuller,  Anne  Watson,  widow;  13  Nov.  1800. 

William  Flood,  Lydia  Carter  ;  6  Aug.  1804. 

Nathaniel  Foster,  North  Yarmouth,  Rebecca  Swasey ;  19  Dec.  1804. 

AVilliam  Fuller,  Sukey  Sleeper ;  31  March  1806. 

Jonathan  Folsom,  Lydia  Folsom ;  17  April  1809. 

Peter  Folsom,  Hannah  P.  Hook;   17  Aug.  1809. 

William  Flood,  Hannah  Moulton;  18  Dec.  1823. 

John  Foss,  Lucy  H.  Bailey  ;  2  June  1826. 

Bradstreet  French,  Newmarket,  Olive  Oilman ;  22  May  1831. 

Lucius  O.  Felt,  Martha  A.  Colley  ;  4  May  1836. 

Abraham  Flood,  Abigail  Dearborn ;  May  1829. 

Nicholas  D.  Folsom,"Celina  Blake  ;  10  Oct.  1832. 

Benjamin  Furbish,  Mary  Lane  ;   16  May  1833. 

John  Farnham,  Jr.,  Newburyport,  Lois  D.  Jenness  ;  24  May  1838. 

Joseph  B.  Flagg,  Harriet  ]\L  Flanders,  Lowell,  Mass. ;  15  April  1840. 

Joseph  H.  Ford,  Elizabeth  Whitcomb ;  7  Sept.  1840. 

Peter  Oilman,  Mary  Oilman,  wid.  of  John  Oilman  ;  8  Dec.  1724. 

Nathaniel  Gookin,  Judith  Coffin  ;  1  Jan.  1740-1. 

Eliphalet  Oilman,  Sarah  Conner  ;  10  May  1778. 

John  Giddinge,  Elizabeth  Wiggin  ;    25  Sept.  1781. 

Nathaniel  Giddinge,  Jr.,  Mrs.  Anne  Folsom;  21  May  1783. 

Zebulon  Oilman,  Jr.,  Mary  Mash;  4  Oct.  1785. 

Nathaniel  Oilman,  Abigail  Odlin ;  29  Dec.  1785. 

Benjamin  Clark  Oilman,  Mary  Thing  Oilman ;  24  June  1788. 

James  Grant,  Betsy  Piper  ;  15  Feb.  1789. 

James  Oilman,  Patty  Oilman;  25  May  1789. 

Joseph  Gorden,  Dolly  Smith  ;  31  Oct.  1790. 

Noah  Oilman,  Mahitable  Steel ;  1  Jan.  1792. 

John  Oilman,  Dorothy  Kimbal ;  30  Jan.  1792. 

John  Taylor  Oilman,  Mrs.  Mary  Adams  ;  5  July  1792. 


54  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Nathaniel  Giddinge,  Mrs.  Peggy  Warren ;  6  Nov/  1794. 

William  Gross,  Dolly  Leavitt ;   16  April  179<5. 

John  Gardner,  Boston,  Deborah  Dean  ;   11  Dec.  179G. 

Joseph  Smith  Gilman,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Odlin  ;  l;3  Xov.  1793. 

James  Gilman,  Jr.,  Susanna  Mason  ;  23  Aug.  1809. 

Stephen  Gale,  Xewburyport,  Harriet  Eastham;  31  Aug.  1807. 

Jonathan  Gilman,  Lydia  Lougee  ;  25  Nov.  1807. 

Nathaniel  Gordon,  Mary  Robinson ;  30  Aug.  1808. 

Stephen  Grover,  Nancy  Barns  ;  31  Jan.  1812. 

Eliphalet  Giddinge,  Mrs.  Ann  Lyford ;   IG  Feb.  1812. 

Tony  Gardner,  Newburyport,  Mary  Paul  Cutler;  23  March  1810. 

John  Gordon,  Newbury,  Frances  Gordon ;  1814. 

Phillips  Gilman,  Betsy  Gilman  ;  8  Nov.  1815. 

Harrison  Gray,  Portsmouth,  Clarissa  Eastham;  23  April  18 IS. 

William  Gould,  Mary  Beckett,  Brentwood;  5  July  1819. 

Stephen  L.  Gordon,  Rebecca  Thayer  ;  6  July  1819. 

James  Gilman,  Isabel  Peavey ;  18  Sept.  1825. 

Biley  Gilman,  Harriet  Burley ;  2S  Feb.  1820. 

Andrew  Gorham,  Sarah  G.  Smith;  11  March  1822. 

Charles  Gaylord,  Mary  J.  Blake  ;   10  July  1822. 

John  Gilman,  Hallowell.  Me.,  Sally  Becket ;  2  Feb.  1823. 

Benjamin  Gordon,  Jr.,  Frances  Folsom  ;  27  April  1823. 

John  T.  Gordon,  Sarah  Folsom ;  20  Nov.  1823. 

Silas  Gould,  Sarah  G.  Folsom ;  29  June  1823. 

James  Gilman,  3d,  Mary  A.  Chapman;  4  Jan.  1826. 

David  W.  Gorham,  Elizabeth  P.  Abbott ;  3  May  1826. 

Theophilus  Goodwin,  Lois  Dutch ;  28  May  1826. 

John  C.  Gerrish,  Mary  G.  Folsom  ;  4  Dec.  1826. 

Nehemiah  Gilman,  Martha  J.  Gray,  Portsmouth;  25  Nov.   1828. 

Stephen  Goodwin,  Maiy  Floid ;  24  June  1831. 

Charles  C.  P.  Gale,  Martha  Walker ;  April  1832. 

Oliver  Gordon,  Candia,  Mary  C.  Dudley;  21  Nov.  1833. 

Nathaniel  Gilman,  4th,  Betsey  F.  Batchelder;  26  Dec.  1833. 

William  F.  Gordon,  Mary  L.  Young  ;   17  Feb.  1834. 

Seth  Goodwin,  Lavina  Willey;  22  Oct.  1837. 

Esop  Hale,  Lucy  Sinegall  (negroes);  3  April  1777. 

Pery  Hardy,  Mehitable  Lawrence;  13  Nov.  1777. 

Moses  Hopkinson,  Lucy  Calf;  13  May  1781. 

Kinsly  Hall,  Honner  Rundlet;  5  Nov.  1781. 

Benjamin  Hilton,  Elizabeth  Thurston  ;  23  March  1783. 

Levi  Healey,  Hampton  Falls.  Abigail  Robinson;  2  Sept.  1784. 

Jonathan  Hill,  Sarah  Wiggins  ;  12  Sept.  1784. 

Nathaniel  Herrick,  Mary  Hackett;   17  Dec.  1784. 

Thomas  Hains,  Hannah  Lord;  17  March  1785. 

Edward  Hilton,  Jr.,  Newmarket,  Deborah  Wiggin  ;  26  Nov.  1792. 

Caleb  Hill,  Newburyport,  Mary  Fowler  ;   19  July  1795. 

Ezra  Hutchins,  Sally  Currier;  26  Feb.  1797. 

Samuel  Hatch,  Marv  Gilman  ;  14  Mav  1797. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  55 

Richard  Hilton,  Xewmarket,  Patty  Leavit ;  31  Jan.  1798. 

Jonathan  Hamilton,  Benvick,  Mass.,  Mrs.  Charlotte  Sweat;  12  April  1801. 

Joseph  Hoit,  Stratham,  Betsy  Odlin ;  26  Nov.  1801. 

Jonathan  Hale,  Coventry,  Mrs.  Mary  Parker;  6  May  1802. 

William  Hill,  Betsy  Wyatt ;   12  Aug.  1806. 

Ezekiel  Hook,  Lucretia  Hill ;   1  Oct.  1807. 

Cuffe  Hoit,  Rose  Whidden,  Greenland ;  28  Sept,  1809. 

Noyes  Hopkinson,  Elizabeth  R.  Eaton;  6  Oct.  1816. 

William  Hoit,  Ellen  E.  Bacon,  Sutton,  Mass.  ;  27  Sept.  1818. 

Rev.  Isaac  Hurd,  Elizabeth  Emery  ;  16  March  1819. 

George  Hanson,  Brentwood,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Leavitt;  3  Dec.  1821. 

Purmot  Hill,  Lydia  R.  Smith ;  13  Feb.  1820. 

Jonathan  Hunnewell,  Mary  Parker ;  23  March  1820. 

Abel  F.  Hildreth.  Londonderry,  Ann  E.  Giddings ;  21  Aug.  1820. 

Henry  Hovey,  Mary  E.  Dolloff ;  10  Sept.  1821. 

James  Hill,  Gilford.  Elizabeth  M.  Hall ;   13  Sept.  1821. 

Joshua  M.  Haley,  Mary  WiUey ;  26  Oct.  1821. 

Thomas  R.  Hopkins,  Boston,  Anna  M.  Adams  ;  3  July  1823. 

4Bamuel  Ham,  Frances  Leavitt;  20  May  1824. 

Thomas  Hardy,  Boston,  Sarah  R.  Folsom ;  31  Aug  1826. 

Moses  Harris,  Clementine  Rundlet ;   18  Oct.   1826. 

Joshua  Holt,  Elizabeth  M.  J.  Emery;  15  May  1827. 

Samuel  Hodgdon,  Joanna  Tilton  ;  25  Oct.  1835. 

Jeremiah  Hall,  Durham,  Sarah  A.  Holt ;  Jan.  1832. 

Charles  A.  Hartshorn,  Boston,  Abigail  S.  Floyd;  21  March  1834. 

Charles  Henss,  Boston,  Sarah  Folsom  ;  9  Nov.  1835. 

Henry  R.  Hall,  Mary  A.  Boardman ;  7  Oct.  1836. 

George  Harrington,  Martha  A.  Cliapman  ;  20  April  1841. 

Moses  Jewett,  Martha  Hale  ;   17  Nov.  1737. 
Francis  James,  Abigail  Lighton;  27  Jan.  1736-7. 

Isaac,  belonging  to  Paul  Jewett,  Catherine,  belonging  to  Josiah  Robinson 

(negroes);  21  Nov.  1776. 
John  Judkins,  Abigail  Swasey ;   12  Jan.  1778. 
Bradbury  Johnson,  Rachel  Short;  24  Sept.  1786. 
John  Johnson,  Jr.,  Mary  Piper;   14  Jan.  1789. 
Daniel  S.  Jones,  Mary  Steel;  18  Sept.  1791. 
Samuel  Jones,  Joanna  Bond  ;  22  Nov.  1792. 
Pomp  Jackson,  Susanna  Dimond  (negroes)  ;  5  April  1794. 
Nathaniel  Jefferds,  Wells,  Mass.,  Mary  Folsom ;   13  Jan.  1802. 
Joseph  A.  Janvrin,  Lydia  A.  Colcoi'd ;  14  Nov.  1822. 
James  Jones,  Ann  Rowley,  foreigners,  23  Dec.  1821. 
Luke  Julian,  Fitchburg,  Abigail  T.  Moses ;  Oct.  1832. 
Ebenezer  James,  Hampton,  Abigail  Robinson ;  3  Nov.  1829. 
Nathan  Jewett,  Mrs.  Eliza  S.  Lang  ;  July  1830. 
Roger  Kelly,  Mary  Holdi-idge ;  29  Sept.  1681. 
Moses  Kimball,  Plieebe  Smart;  14  Feb.  1781. 
Casar  Knnap,  Mimbo  Cottle  ;  13  Dec.  1781. 
Peter  S.  Kimball,  Abigail  Dean;  6  Jan.  1783. 


56  HISTOKY  OF  EXETER. 

Dudley  Kimball,  Anne  Folsom  ;  21  May  1789.     . 

John  Kimball,  Wakefield,  Mrs.  Mary  Weeks  ;  20  Aug.  1789. 

John  Kimball,  Anne  Oilman  ;  1  Oct.  1790. 

John  Kennedy,  Lyclia  Blaisdell ;  25  Jan.  1807. 

John  Kimball]  Mrs.  Sarah  Hodgkins  ;  8  Sept.  182-5. 

Samuel  Kingsbury,  Portsmouth,  Mary  J.  Thurston  ;  24  Nov.  1825. 

John  Kennedy,  Mary  Hart ;  31  Dec.  1826. 

Francis  Lyford,  Rebecca  Dudley;  21  Nqv.  1681. 

Nicholas  Lisson,  Jane ;  14  Dec.  1682. 

Jonathan  Lord,  Mrs.  Hannah  Light ;   14  Oct.  1731. 

John  Leavitt,  Abigail  Giles;  June  1735.  ^ 

Josiah  Ladd,  Sarah  Moss  ;  3  Jan.  1737-8. 

Elias  Ladd,  Ann  Oilman;  27  Nov.  1740. 

John  Lord,  Abigail  Eliots  ;  27  Nov.  1777. 

John  Light,  Sarah  Marvel;  4  Dec.  1777. 

Josiah  Leavit,  Lydia  Lawrence ;  6  July  1780. 

Joseph  Lovring,  Elizabeth  Creighton ;  2  Nov.  1780. 

Joseph  Lougee,  Miriam  Fog;  14  Nov.  1780. 

Daniel  Leavitt,  Elizabeth  Magoon  ;  21  Nov.  1780.  - 

Eliphalet  Lord,  Abigail  Lord  ;  2  May  1781. 

Jonathan  Louge,  Nancy  Simpson  ;  6  Feb.  1783. 

Joseph  Lamson,  3d,  Mehitable  Philbrick  ;  3  Sept.  1784. 

Stephen  Leavitt,  Brentwood,  Elizabeth  Gordon  ;  30  April  1787. 

Simeon  Ladd,  Deborah  Oilman;  31  Jan.  1789. 

Robert  Lord,  Jr.,  Mary  Davis,  Poplin  ;  30  Sept.  1789. 

Joseph  T^amson,  3d,  Susanna  Folsom;  Jan.  1793. 

Isaac  Lord,  Effingham,  Susanna  Leavitt;  4  Feb.  1793. 

Robert  Lyford,  Newmarket,  Mary  Lyford;  28  March  1793. 

EHsha  Logic,  Nancy  Lord;  7  Sept.  1794. 

James  Laine,  Stratham,  Deborah  Folsom;  23  Nov.  1794. 

John  Levering,  Apphia  Wyatt;  18  Sept.  1794. 

Kinsley  Lyford,  Elizabeth  Scammons,  Stratham  ;   16  Feb.  1796. 

Samuel   Lovering,  North  Hamjiton,    Susanna   Taylor,   Hampton ;  8  March 

1796. 
Prince  Light,  Phillis  Currier  (negroes) ;  16  March  1800. 
Joseph  Lamson,  Jr.,  Mary  Sewal  Parker ;   14  Oct.  1800. 
Jotham  Lawrence,  Epping,  Deborah  Robinson;  21  Feb.  1803. 
Samuel  Leavitt,  Abigail  Kimball ;  6  March  1803. 
Thomas  Leighton,  Elizabeth  Mitchell ;  7  March  1804. 
Benjamin  Leavitt,  Betsy  Dodge  ;  1  July  1804. 
Joseph  Lovering,  Mrs.  Sarah  Calef,  Kingston ;  24  March  1808. 
John  Lakeman,  Boston,  Sally  Rundlet;  12  Nov.  1808. 
John  Lamson,  Nancy  Dodge;  15  Sept.  1811. 
William  Lane,  Abigail  Daniels  ;  19  Nov.  1815. 
John  Lougee,  Hannah  T.  Leavitt;  1817. 

Hasket  D.  Lang,  Salem,  Mass.,  Eliza  S.  Sleeper;  7  June  1819. 
Sargent  S.  Littlehale,  Boston,  Edna  P.  Dow  ;  10  June  1819. 
Jonathan  Lai'abee,  Mary  Davis  ;  13  Oct.  1819. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  57 

Benjamin  Leathers,  Eliza  Fogg;  4  March  1822. 

Edmund  Leavitt,  Concord,  Nancy  Reed  ;  14  Jan.  1821. 

Gideon  C.  Lyford,  Hannah  E.  Oilman ;  9  Sept.  1821. 

Oliver  Larkin,  Waterville,  Me.,  Mary  Oilman;  5  Nov.  1821. 

Charles  Ladd,  Abigail  Hilton;  19  May  1822. 

John  Leavitt,  Mary  S.  Taylor ;  3  Nov.  1822. 

Heman  Ladd,  Haverhill,  Mass.,  Hannah  Oilman;  14  May  1823. 

Benjamin  Leavitt,  Sarah  E.  Stevenson  ;  2-5  April  1833. 

Jonathan  Leavitt,  Angelina  Towle  ;  30  June  1 833. 

Oeorge  W.  Leathers,  Mrs.  Frances  Deverson ;  28  Nov.  1833. 

Isaac  Ladd,  Mary  James,  Kensington  ;  15  June  1836. 

Joshua  A.  Lunt,  Jerusha  H.  Young  ;  Oct.  1830. 

Parker  Lovejoy,  St.  Stephens,  N.  B.,  Harriet  Swasey;  July  1832. 

Wm.  B.  Lowd,  Rebecca  L.  Shaw ;  3  Jan.  1836. 

Josiah  Lane,  Eliza  A.  Sanborn;  5  April  1836. 

Oeorge  W.  Little,  Amesbury,  Mary  E.  Swasey ;  27  Aug.  1836. 

Calvin  Lovering,  Mary  J.  French  ;  5  June  1838. 

Benjamin  Morss,  Mary  Oilman;  2  Jan.  1777. 

Samuel  Mash,  Hannah  Bell;  16  Jan.  1777. 

Juba  Merrile,  Newbury,  Hannah  Holland  (negroes);  3  Aug.   1777. 

Caleb  Michele,  Ann  Hains ;  13  Nov.  1777. 

Francis  Mason,  Susanna  Moses  ;  6  June  1779. 

Winthrop  Merrill,  Date  Steel ;   1  Sept.  1779. 

Joseph  Mash,  OUey  Abuckle  ;  17  Dec.  1780. 

Zebulon  Marsh,  Abigail  Young ;  27  Sept.   1784. 

William  Moore,  Elizabeth  Rundlet ;  2  Dec.  1789. 

Ebenezer  Melony,  Anne  Hacket ;  24  Dec.  1797. 

John  Meader,  Elizabeth  Oilman;   1  Jan.  1798. 

Simon  Magoon,  Kingston,  Betsey  Barstow ;  22  Nov.  1796. 

Ebenezer  Mingo,  Phena  Sharp  ;  23  Dec.  1796. 

James  Marston,  Packersfield,  Mass.,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Oiddinge  ;  31  Aug.  1799. 

Henry  Moore,  Portsmouth,  Ann  Odiorne  ;   10  Sept.  1804. 

William  Mace,  Stratham,  Catharine  Swasey;  29  Jan.  1812. 

Samuel  Moses,  Mary  E.  Haskell;  29  March  1812. 

Amos  Morse,  Newbury,  Lucretia  Dean  ;  3  Nov.  1817. 

Abner  Merrill,  Sally  W.  Leavitt;  2  July  1816. 

John  Mead,  Olive  Lovering;  31  Dec.  1818. 

Henry  Menjoy,  Abigail  Pickering  ;  7  March  1819. 

Ebenezer  L.  Moulton,  Mary  Leavitt;  27  Oct.  1822. 

Daniel  Melcher,  Nancy  Y.  Folsom  ;  27  April  1823. 

Francis  Mager,  Catharine  Thompson  (negroes)  ;  6  Nov.  1823. 

AVilliam  Moore,  Jr.,  Rachel  French;   11  Aug.  1824. 

Sibley  Moulton,  Lucinda  Fogg  ;  30  Sept.  1824. 

Samuel  H.  Marsh,  Martha  B.  Davis  ;  30  March  1826. 

Thomas  J.  Marsh,  Nancy  S.  Davis ;  30  March  1826. 

John  Morrison,  Mary  Sheriff";  29  Nov.  1827. 

Thomas  Moulton,  Mary  Oordon ;  4  June  1828. 

Isaac  O.  Morse,  Eunice  Crockett ;  21  June  1837. 


58  HISTORY  OF  EXETEll. 

John  Moulton,  Lydia  Leavitt ;  Dec.  1829. 

Thomas  G.  Morse,  Eliza  J.  BhiHchard  ;  3  July  1833. 

George  S.  Harden,  Eliza  A.  Pickering  ;  8  Nov.  1835. 

Gilman  McXeal,  Emeline  N.  Batchelder ;  4  Sept.  1836. 

Archelaus  Martin,  Dinah  Barne  ;   11  March  1837. 

Peltiah  Moulton,  York,  Me.,  Susan  H.  Card;  22  Dec.  1839. 

William  P.  Moses,  Abby  Iv.  Leavitt ;   14  Nov.  1839. 

Theodore  Moses,  Harmony,  Me.,  Abigail  G.  Colcord ;  19  Jan.  1840. 

Joseph  H.  Morrill,  Salisbury,  Mass.,  Olive  Greenleaf ;  9  April  1840. 

Jonathan  Nelson,  Martha  Folsom ;  27  April  1777. 

Josiah  Nelson,  Mary  Robinson;  6  Dec.  1780. 

Eliphalet  Norris,  Lydia  Rundlet ;   14  Dec.  1780. 

Dudley  Nichols,  Molly  Badger;  2  April  1783. 

Mark  Nutter,  Lydia  Nelson;  28  Dec.  1785. 

Harvey  NicoUe,  Hannah  Mead  ;  23  Dec.  1790. 

Benjamin  Nason,  Shapleigh,  Me.,  Hannah  Gilman;   17  Aug.  1794. 

Charles  Norris,  Catharine  Ranlet ;   1  Sept.  1807. 

Rev.  Ichabod  Nicolles,  Portland,  Dorothea  F.  Gilman  ;   1810. 

Charles  Norris,  Teresa  Orn  ;  AjKil  1811. 

Nathaniel  F.  Nelson,  Gilmanton,  Lydia  B.  Folsom;  28  Feb.  1817. 

Dudley  Nelson,  Gilmanton,  Martha  N.  Folsom;  5  Feb.  1818. 

Josiah  Nelson,  Martha  W.  Colcord;  31  March  1822. 

Rufus  Newhall,  Betsy  Dolloff;  27  Feb.  1825. 

Joseph  Newman,  Mary  Steele  ;  29  Aug.  1827. 

Josiah  Norton,  Deborah  Fogg  ;  15 1836. 

Adam  Nichols,  Gloucester,  Mass.,  Martha  B.  Folsom;  Nov.  1829. 

Samuel  F.  Nelson,  Lavina  Folsom;  3  Oct.  1832. 

Dudley  Odlin,  Elizabeth  Gilman  ;   14  Feb.  1782. 

Woodbridge  Odlin,  Mary  Brooks  ;  11  Feb.  1789. 

William  Odlin,  Betsey  Leavitt;   19  June  1791. 

Philip  Osgood,  Joanna  Davis  ;   17  March  1794. 

Samuel  T.  Odiorne,  Philadelphia,  Clarissa  Gilman  ;   1  Nov.   1815. 

James  Odlin,  Martha  H.  Osborne;  27  Oct.  1816. 

Woodbridge  Odlin,  Joanna  Odiorne  ;  4  Feb.  1828. 

Oliver  W.  Osborne,  Mary  A.  Allen,  Bradford  ;  27  April  1837. 

Jonathan  Perkins,  Sarah ;  20  Dec.  1682. 

Jonathan  Perkins,  Elizabeth  Folsom  ;  1  April  1778. 

Primus,  CillClough  (negroes) ;   19  May  1779. 

Edmund  Pearson,  Dorothy  Swasey  ;  26  Oct.  1779. 
Samuel  Page,  Elizabeth  Langdon  ;   18  May  1780. 

Robinson  Peters,  Vilet ;  4  Sept.  1781. 

Oliver  Peabody,  Frances  Bourn;  28  March  1782. 

Robert  Parkes,  Dolly  Gilman;  6  March  1783. 

Samuel  Philbrick,  Hannah  Robinson  ;  28  Oct.  1784. 

Daniel  Philbrick,  Susanna  Carty  ;  19  Dec.  1790. 

Moses  Pike,  Hampton  Falls,  Theodata  Sanborn;  6  April  1791. 

Nathaniel  Parker,  Catharine  Tilton  ;  14  Nov.  1793. 

Joseph  Pearson,  Dorothy  Giddinge  ;  5  April  1795. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  59 

Stephen  Perkins,  Rochester,  Lydia  Smith;  23  Feb.  1796. 

Rev.  Walter  Powers,  Gihnanton,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  McClure;  7  Aug.  1805. 

Offin  B.  Palmer,  Wakefield,  Sally  Roofers  ;  25  Sept.  1805. 

William  Pearson,  Sophia  Osborne  ;  16  April  1807. 

Nathaniel  Page,  Charlotte  Tilton  ;  21  March  1809. 

Joseph  Plummer,  Jr.,  Newburyport,  Ann  Cram;  4  Sept.  1809. 

John  Paul,  Martha  Oilman  ;   15  March  1810. 

John  Pearson,  Jr.,  Newbui'yport,  Harriet  P.  Cai'lton  ;  30  Sept.  1810. 

Jacob  Paul,  Jr.,  Catherine  Wallace  ;   18  Jan.  1813. 

Edmund  Pearson,  Wells,  Mass.,  Hannah  Philbrick  ;   16  Oct.  1814. 

Samuel  Philbrick,  Elizabeth  Smith  ;   17  Nov.  1814. 

John  Peavey,  Hannah  Daniels  ;   16  Jan.  1816. 

Jeremiah  Palmer,  Elizabeth  Moore;  28  Jan.  1816. 

Rev.  Gardner  B.  Perry,  Bradford,  Mass.,  Maria  P.   Chamberlain ;  22  May 

1816. 
James  Pearson,  Susan  Swasey ;  10  Nov.  1816. 
William  Perry,  Abby  Oilman  ;  8  April  1818. 

Nathaniel  P.  Page,  Eastport,  Me.,  Mary  A.  Robinson  ;   16  Aug.  1822. 
Dennis  Poor,  Raymond,  Mary  Lovering  ;  25  April  1824. 
Joseph  Perkins,  Elizabeth  Odlin  ;  29  Nov.  1825. 
James  G.  Page,  Newmarket,  Elizabeth  Sawyer;  6  Dec.  1827. 
Daniel  Pearson,  Hannah  Carter  ;  5  June  1831. 
John  W.  Pettengill,  Olive  M.  Fellows  ;  29  Sept.  1833. 
Jeremiah  J.  Peavey,  Luella  J.  Rowe  ;  3  June  1834. 
Benjamin  R.  Perkins,  Mary  J.  Dolloff;  21  Dec.  1834. 
Lewis  W.  Perkins,  Eliza  Leavitt ;  Dec.  1829. 
Asher  C.  Palmer,  Boston,  Ann  R.  Folsom  ;  27  Aug.  1833. 
William  Philbrick,  Sarah  Lyford  ;  29  Aug.  1829. 
AVilliam  Parker,  Canajoharie,  N.  Y.,  Dolly  Blake  ;  26  April  1834. 
Michael  Prescott,  Mary  N.  Hill ;   14  July  1834. 
Samuel  Peavey,  Sarah  Oilman;  30  Oct.  1837. 
Lucian  M.  Pike,  Newmarket,  Satira  D.  Wadleigh ;  22  June  1840. 
Joseph  Quince,  Martha  Oilman  ;  29  Dec.  1822. 
Ephi-aim  Robinson,  Mary  Shaw;  24  Jan.  1734-5. 
James  Rundlet,  Jane  McCluer ;  25  Dec.  1777. 
John  Robinson,  Sarah  Smith;  9  Jan.  1777. 
Francis  Roberts,  Jane  Lovrain ;  30  Dec.  1778. 
Benjamin  Robinson,  Huldah  Conner  ;  24  July  1781. 
William  Robinson,  Jane  Smith;  Sept.  1782. 
Daniel  Robinson,  Abigail  Robinson,  Sanbornton ;  7  March  1785. 
Jonathan  Rundlet,  Anne  Johnson;   16  Feb.  1786. 
Joseph  Rundlet,  Priscilla  Wilson;   18  March  1787. 
Joseph  Rundlet,  Hannah  Dow,  Epping;  3  Dec.  1788. 
John  Robinson,  Sanbornton,  Lydia  Calfe  ;  2  Jan.  1790. 
William  Robinson,  Mary  Leavitt ;  12  July  1792. 
Zeehariah  Robinson,  Rebecca  Hall;  21  Nov.  1793. 
James  Robinson,  Sanbornton,  Deborah  Dean  Lord;  23  Nov.  1793. 


60  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

James  Rundlet,  Sally  Rust;  12  Nov.  1796. 

Josiah  Sanborn,  Hannah  Moulton ;  25  Aui^.  1681. 

Benjamin  ShaAv,  Molly  Sanborn;  16  Sept.  1778. 

John  Shepard,  Gilmanton,  Elizabeth  Oilman  ;   13  Dec.  1779. 

John  Smith,  Pheebe  Thurston  ;  20  Sept.   1781. 

John  Sanborn,  Anne  Sanborn  ;  29  July  1782. 

John  Setier,  Sarah  Rundlet;  24  Sept.  1783. 

Benjamin  Silsbee,  Polly  Folsom;  8  Oct.  1786. 

Joseph  Smith,  Polly  Burleigh;  13  Nov.  1786. 

Lowel  Rawlins,  Sukey  Fogg;  28  Dec.  1802. 

Samuel  Rowe,  Olive  Rundlet ;  15  May  1802. 

Wm.  F.  Rowland,  Ann  Giddings;  29  Aug.  1802. 

Robert  Roberts,  Boston,  Dorothy  Hall ;  15  Dec.  1805. 

Daniel  Rundlet,  Sophia  Folsom  ;  6  April  1807. 

Henry  A.  Ranlett,  Mary  Fellows;  30  March  1817. 

Trueworthy  Robinson,  Jr.,  Lucy  Melcher,  Kensington;  30  Oct.  1817. 

Thomas  S.  Robinson,  Brentwood,  Sophia  Gordon;   16  Dec.  1818. 

Jeremiah  L.  Robinson,  Irene  Fellows  ;  26  Jan.  1823. 

James  Robinson,  Mary  Elliot;  18  Feb.  1827. 

Daniel  Ranlett,  Sarah  G.  Smith  ;  18  Xov.  1827. 

John  Rogers,  Martha  P.  Cram  ;  20  March  1828. 

Samuel  Rand,  Epping,  Mary  Willey  ;  13  April  1829. 

William  Rowe,  Mary  A.  Philbrick;  Nov.  1836. 

Lucian  B.  Robee,  Elizabeth  Dean  ;  May  1832.  - 

Henry  Robinson,  Almira  Kelly;   14  March  1836. 

Jona.  Robinson,  Jr.,  Sarah  S.  Dearborn,  North  Hampton;  27  Sept.  1837. 

Charles  H.  Robinson,  Ann  M.  Colcord ;  16  April  1840. 

Levi  Rundlett,  Irena  M.  Foye  ;  4  July  1841. 

Thomas  Swasey,  Elizabeth  Folsom ;  7  Jan.  1787. 

Zadoch  Sanborn,  Gilmanton,  Abigail  Tilton  ;  31  Jan.  1788. 

Benjamin  Pierce  Sherift",  Patty  Oilman;  29  Sept.  1788. 

Josiah  Coffin  Smith,  Annie  Leavitt ;   11  July  1789. 

John  Smith,  Jr.,  Elizabeth  Calef ;  18  July  1790. 

Rev.  Jonathan  Strong,  Braintree,  Joanna  Odiorne  ;  3  Nov.  1790. 

Joseph  Sceavy,  Rye,  Martha  Patten,  Candia  ;   13  June  1790. 

Nathaniel  Sother,  Mrs.  Esther  Chamberlain;  16  Dec.  1790. 

Daniel  Smith,  Jr.,  Polly  Pickering;  14  Feb.  1791. 

Jonathan  F.  Sleeper,  Dorothy  Tilton  ;   18  Nov.  1791. 

Titus  Sharp,  Phena  Jacobs  (negroes)  ;  29  Dec.  1791. 

William  Sibley,  Gilmanton,  Anna  Thing,  Brentwood ;  6  Sept.  1792. 

Thomas  Stickney,  Jr.,  Concord,  Mary  Ann  Odlin;  7  Nov.  1792. 

Josiah  Sanborn,  Sanbornton,  Olive  Fogg  ;  4  Feb.  1794. 

Simeon  Stevens,  Stratham,  Ruth  Sanborn;  8  May  1794. 

Jeremiah  Stickney,  Portsmouth,  Charlotte  Odlin  ;  4  May  1795. 

John  Steel,  Elizabeth  Hilton  ;  2  Nov.  1793. 

Dudley  Swasey,  Danville,  Vt.,  Apphia  Loogee  ;  5  March  1796. 

John  Sawyer,  Lovey  Paul  (negroes) ;  13  Jan.  1797. 

Robert  Steel,  Olive  Hilton  ;  4  Sept.  1796. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  61 

Josiah  Sleeper,  ^Margaret  Taylor  ;  29  Sept.  1796. 

Richard  Smith,  Jr.,  Seabrook,  Hannah  Tucker,  Pittsfield;  20  Dee.  1798. 

Timothy  Smith,  Jr.,  Sanbornton,  Polly  Smith,  Brentwood  ;  7  Jan.  1799. 

William  Swasey,  Mary  Piobinson  ;  7  Aug.  1800. 

Greenleaf  Seavey,  Nancy  Parks  ;  13  July  1806. 

Jacob  H.  Sanborn,  Kingston,  Betsey  Hoit ;   13  Jan.  1807. 

Joseph  Smith,  Jr.,  Sally  Dutch  ;  17  Nov.  1808. 

Samuel  B.  Stevens,  Newburyport,  Joanna  Folsom  ;  27  Aug.  1810. 

James  Smith,  Lydia  Taylor  ;  1810. 

Rufus  Swasey,  Abigail  T.  Leavitt  ;  30  Aug.  1812. 

Samuel  Somerby,  Mary  Swasey  ;  7  Oct.  1812. 

Buswell  Stevens,  Pembroke,  Catharine  H.  Emery  ;   16  May  1814. 

Amos  Saunders,  Salem,  Maria  Steele ;  22  July  1816. 

Robert  Shute,  Emma  Smith  ;  5  Oct.  1817. 

Benjamin  Swasey,  Caroline  Clark;  15  Oct.  1818. 

Parker  Sheldon,  Gardiner,  Me.,  Elizabeth  W.  Conner  ;  1  Nov.  1820. 

Hem-y  Shute,  Eliza  R.  Smith  ;  29  Feb.  1820. 

Lewis  Smith,  Plymouth,  N.  H.,  Henrietta  Robinson  ;  1  Sept.  1822. 

James  Sanborn,  Hannah  V.  Colcord  ;  16  Nov.  1823. 

John  L.  Stokle,  Northwood,  Mrs.  Lydia  Oilman;  12  Feb.  1824. 

John  Scammon,  Stratliam,  Mary  G.  Barker  ;  1824. , 

Joseph  Safford,  Danvers,  Mass.,  Sally  R.  Folsom  ;  10  June  1826. 

Josiah  G.  Smith,  Francis  A.  Eastham  ;  18  June  1826. 

William  O.  Smith,  Mary  G.  Towle ;  3  May  1827. 

Oliver  Smith,  Charlotte  Rundlett ;  1828. 

Timothy  F.  Shaw,  Mrs.  Mary  Gale ;  27  July  1829. 

Jeremiah  Sawyer,  Susan  Sheriff;  Dec.  1832. 

William  L.  Swasey,  Mary  Oilman  ;  10  Nov.  1830. 

Lewis  F.  Shepard,  Sarah  Dow  ;  March  1830. 

Elihu  T.  Stevens,  Mary  A.  Odlin  ;  June  1832. 

Nathaniel  Shute,  Fitchburg,  Susan  G.  Barker ;  1  Oct.  1832. 

Thomas  Sullivan,  Frances  A.  Leavitt ;  7  Oct.  1836. 

John  R.  Storey,  Caroline  C.  Tilton ;  24  Dec.  1837. 

Elijah  Tilton,  Eunice  Lee  ;  5  April,  1778. 

Ephraim  Thursten,  Ann  Mash;  11  Jan.  1780. 

John  Thompson,  Anne  Wilson,  27  July  1784. 

James  Thurston,  Elizabeth  Peabody,  Brentwood;  9  Oct.  1791. 

Caleb  Thurston,  Jr.,  Mary  Oilman;  17  Nov.  1792. 

John  Tilton,  Patty  Odlin;  30  June  1793. 

Moses  Thurston,  Sarah  Moses;  2  Sept.  1793. 

Nathaniel  Taylor,  Nancy  Eastham;  21  Sept.  1794. 

Simeon  Tole,  Parsonsfield,  Betsey  More,  Stratham  ;  25  March  1794. 

Richard  Thayer,  Randolph,  Mass.,  Deborah  Odiorne;  10  Feb.  1799. 

John  Poor  Taylor,  Lydia  Jones  ;  22  July  1799. 

Caleb  Thurston,  Jr.,  Anne  Wiggins  ;  31  Aug.  1799. 

Joseph  Tilton,  Rochester,  Nancy  Folsom  ;  13  Jan.  1806. 

Dudley  Thing,  Lydia  Swasey ;  28  Aug.  1808. 

Dr.  Joseph  Tilton,  Catharine  Shackford  ;  10  Sept.  1767. 


62  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

John  Tilton,  Mary  Luey  :  6  March  1811. 

Abraham  Towle,  Mary  Merrill;  29  Sept.  1816. 

William  G.  Tash,  Sally  P.  Duce ;  2  Oct.  1819. 

John  F.  Tilton,  Sarah  Fogg  ;  2  Dec.  1819. 

Winthrop  Tilton,  Joanna  T.  ;Morse  ;  4  March  1823. 

James  Tuttle,  Maria  Jenks  ;  5  Feb.  1824. 

Laban  A.  Tyler,  Mary  Ranlet ;  8  April  1824. 

Zebulon  G   Thing,  Sarah  A.  York,  Brentwood  ;  16  Xov.  1830. 

Perley  Tuck,  Kensington,  Lavina  Saffbrd  ;  G  Jan.  1828. 

Elisha  Towle,  Kensington,  Hannah  S.  Dolloft";  o  April  1829. 

Nathaniel  K.  Thurston,  Bradford,  Mass.,  Sarah  ^.  York  ;   13  May  1832. 

James  D.  Townsend,  Dover,  Sarah  W.  Hook;  21  Sept.  1834. 

William  Treadwell,  Harriet  M.  Ladd  ;  9  Sept.  1836. 

Joseph  Twombly,  Shuah  Wentworth  ;  28  Sept.  1837. 

David  D.  Thompson,  Mary  E.  King  ;  9  Aug.  1840. 

linoch  W.  Towle,  Susannah  Perkins ;   15  Nov.  1832. 

James  Underwood,  Anna  Thurston  ;  4  Dec.  1777. 

Ned  R.  Underbill,  Chester.  Abigail  Conner;  27  Aug,  1817. 

John  White,  Haverhill,  Lydia  Gilman;  24  Oct.  1687. 

Josiah  Weeks,  Abigail  James;  9  Oct.  1776. 

Joseph  Wait,  Esther  Heerd ;  3  Feb.  1783. 

Ceesar  Wallace,  Katy  Duce  ;  2o  March  1783. 

Thomas  Waters,  Portsmouth,  Deborah  Rundlet;  24  July  1783. 

Cato  Wallingsford,  Margaret  Peterson;  26  Feb.  1784. 

John  Wadleigh,  Elizabeth  Daniels;  3  March  1784. 

Isaac  Williams,  Elizabeth  Jenkins  ;   16  Aug.  178(5. 

Nathaniel  Weeks,  Polly  Pottle;  6  May  1787. 

Daniel  Williams,  Nottingham,  Polly  Jenkins  ;   17  Oct.  1790. 

John  AYebb,  Polly  Corney  ;  27  Feb.  1792. 

Abner  Wood,  Loudon,  Dolly  Pearson;  18  June  1792. 

Simon  Wiggin,  Joanna  Thurston  ;  15  July  1792. 

David  Watson,  Jr.,  Lucretia  York,  Brentwood  ;  30  March  1793. 

Joseph    Whitfield,    Newburyport,    Nancy    Pauls,   Newburyport  (negroes) ; 

12  Dec.  1797. 
James  Weeks,  Elizabeth  Marsh;  30  Nov.  1800. 
John  Walker,  Portsmouth,  Dolly  Adams;  2  Jan.  1802. 
William  Webb,  Polly  Odiorne.  " 
Dan  Weed,  Gloucester,  Lucy  Rust ;  7  Dec.  1807. 
Joshua  Wiggin,  Comfort  Wiggin,  Newmarket  ;   20  April  1809. 
George  Wallace,  Dolly  Pauls;  1  Feb.  1818. 
John  Walker,  Mary  Adjutant;  28  Aug.  1818. 
William  Wadleigh,  Sally  Leavitt ;   1  Jan.  1817. 
John  Watson,  Newmarket,  Betsy  Gilman  ;  9  Jan.  1822. 
Benjamin  Wiggin,  Boston,  Mary  A.  Conner ;  2  March  1823. 
Nathaniel  Weeks,  Harriet  B.  Gilman ;  6  Aug.  1820. 
Benjamin  J.  Williams,  Maria  Thayer;  5  May,  1825. 
Richard  B.  Ward,  Catherine  F.  Moore  ;  2  June  1826. 
Joseph  L.  White,  Mary  P.  Whitefield,  Londonderry;  23  Dec.  1826. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  63 

James  AVeeks,  Jr  ,  Sarah  Sherifl";  o  Feb.  1827. 

Ebenezer  Wyatt,  Sarah  M.  Leavitt ;  4  Dec.  1828. 

Edward  W.  Warren,  Maliuda  Crosby;  3  Nov.  1829. 

Levi  Wilson,  South  Hampton,  Eliza  A.  Fellows  ;   15  June  1834. 

Foster  G.  Whidden,  Celestia  W.  Gridley;  11  Oct.  1835. 

Ebenezer  Willis,  Mary  F.  Batchelder ;  22  Feb.  1836. 

John  Williams,  Abigail  P.  Stockbridge  ;  29  Nov.  1838. 

Jonathan  B.  Wadleigh,  Sarah  Hicks  ;  21  Oct.  1838. 

Hiram  Whittemore,  Pembroke,  Elizabeth  J.  Hoyt ;  15  Nov.  1838. 

Jonathan  P.  West,  Sarah  F.  Card  ;  2  Feb.  1840. 

Josiah  R.  West,  Esther  G.  Card  ;  2  Feb.  1840. 

Alvan  White,  Susan  Goodwin;  5  ^Nlarch  1840. 

Jonathan  Y.  York,  Sarah  Smith,  Stratham  ;   17  Nov.  1785. 

John  York,  Abigail  Melcher,  Kensington  ;  18  Dec.  1802. 

Joseph  Young,  Sarah  B.  HaU  ;  17  Oct.  1819. 

Isaac  P.  Yeaton,  South  Berwick,  Me.,  Frances  S.  Gordon  ;  15  June,  1835. 


BIRTHS. 

FROM    THE    TOWN    UECORDS. 


Samuel,  s.  of  Hannah  Adkinson  ;  29  March  1766. 

Josiah,  s.  of  Jonathan  and  Susannah  Bradley  ;  20  Sept.  1745. 

John,  s.  of  Samuel  and  Mary  Brown;  2  Nov.  1761. 

Sarah,  d.  of  Moses  and  Anne  Coffin;  19  Sept.  1733. 

Frederick,  s.  of  Theodore  and  Deborah  Charlton  (Carleton) ;    7  Oct.  1764  ; 

d.  2  Feb.  1766. 
Enoch  Coffin  March,  s.  of  Peter  Chadwick  ;  13  Sept.  1818. 
John,  s.  of  Peter  Chadwick;  21  Oct.  1821. 
Henry  Salter,  s.  of  Andrew  and  Harriet  Cook  and  grandson  of  Thomas  and 

Mercy  Speed  ;  18  Jan.  1817. 
Ferdinand,  s.  of  Rev.  Ferdinand  Ellis  ;  12  March  1819. 
Susanna,  d.  of  John  and  Mary  Folsom;   10  May  1718. 
Josiah,  s.  of  John  and  Mary  Folsom;   24  July  1725. 
Abigail,  d.  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  Favor  ;  21  Dec.  1733. 
James,  s.  of  James  and  Elizabeth  Folsom  ;  27  June  1737. 
Charles  Lee,  s.  of  Isaac  and  Frances  B.  Foster  ;  2  March  1836. 
Mary,  d.  of  Stephen  and  Molly  Gorham  ;   1  April  1785. 
Mary,  d.  of  Dudley  and  Mercy  Hilton;  22  Oct.  1709. 
Jane,  d.  of  Dr.  Eliphalet  and  Elizabeth  Hale  ;  9  May  1751. 
John,  s.  of  John  Kimming  ;   11  June  1670. 
Thomas  Dolloff,  s.  of  Martha  Kimming;  21  March  1737. 
John,  s.  of  Robert  Kimball;  1  Jan.  1771  ;  d.  29  Oct.  1849. 


64  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Nathaniel,  s.  of  Dudley  and  Ann  Kimball;  12  Jiyie  1805. 

Samuel  Gilman,  s.  of  Heman  and  Hannah  Ladd  ;  7  Sept.  1825. 

"William  Frederic,  s.  of  Jotham  and  Deborah  Lawrence  ;  22  March  1804. 

Alexander  Hamilton,  s.  of  Jotham  and  Caroline  Lawrence  ;   18  June  1812. 

Abigail  Lighten  ;  7  Nov.  1713. 

Mary  Mann;  4  Sept.  1796. 

John  Mann,  George  Mann  (twins);  18  May  1799. 

Horace  Edward,  s.  of  Horace  W.  and  Lydia  S.  Morse  ;  4  Aug.  1840. 

Serena  Maria,  d.  of  Samuel  Tufts  and  Clarissa  Odiorne  ;  8  Sept.  1817. 

Jeremiah  Dow,  s.  of  Retire  H.  and  Hannah  Parker  ;  4  Oct.  1833. 

Charles,  Jane,  children  of  Charles  Rundlett ;  9  May  1676. 

Thomas  M.,  s.  of  James  and  Jane  Rundlett;  26  Nov.  1798. 

Abigail,  d.  of  Jonathan  Smith  ;  22  June  1678. 

Sarah,  d.  of  EUsha  and  Lydia  Sanborn  ;  21  Aug.  1734. 

Benjamin,  s.  of  Nicholas  and  Mary  Smith;  1  Feb.  1702. 

Lydia,  d.  of  Timothy  and  Abigail  Somes  ;   19  June  1760 

John,  s.  of  Timothy  and  Abigail  Somes  ;  28  Oct.  1763. 

Catharine  Shackford  ;  12  Oct.  1745. 

Joseph  Tilton ;  25  Sept.  1744. 

George  Veasey  ;  20  Oct.  1665. 

William,  alias  Elijah,  s.  of  Elijah  and  Lydia  Vickery  ;  17  March  1782. 

Mary,  d.  of  Jesse  and  Patience  Worster ;  16  March  1747-8. 

Elizabeth,  d.  of  Thomas  and  Susanna  Webster;  21  June  1740. 


DEATHS,  PRIOR  TO  THE  YEAR  1800. 

FROM   THE    TOWN    RECORDS. 

Deborah  Warren,  wife  of  John  ;  26  June  1668. 

George  Randol ;   15  Feb.  1666-7. 

Catharine  Hilton,  wife  of  Edward ;  29  May  1676. 

Antipas  Marverick;  2  July  1678. 

Eliphalet  Coffin ;  16  Aug.  1736. 

Catharine  Shackford,  wid.  of  John  ;   16  Dec.  1799. 

Samuel  Thursten  ;  21  Jan.  1751. 

Anna  Wadleigh,  wife  of  Jonathan  ;  8  March  1743—4. 

Ralph  Hall ;  6  June  1671. 

Col.  Samuel  Gilman,  s.  of  Nicholas  ;  3  Jan.  1785. 

Peter  Gilman,  s.  of  John;  1  Dec.  1788. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETEK.  65 

BIRTHS,  DEATHS  AND  MARRIAGES. 

FROM   THE    EARLIEST   TOWN    RECORDS. 

The  following  is  a  transcript  from  the  earliest  book  of  records 
of  the  town,  and  is  not  embodied  in  the  preceding  tables. 

A  I'ecord  of  the  births,  marriages  and  deaths  of  children  and 
others  in  Exeter  as  they  are  brought  to  the  clerk  of  the  writs  from 
the  6*  of  the  first  mo.  ('48)  or  ('49.) 

1.  Joseph  Cram  the  son  of  John  Cram  and  Lide,  aged  about  15  years, 
departed  this  hfe,  being  drounded  the  2-ltii  of  June. 

2.  At  the  same  time  Joseph  Duncom  servant  to  Capt.  Wiggen  was 
di'ouned,  being  in  the  same  canoe  with  tlie  other. 

3.  Lidde  Cram  daughter  of  John  Cram  was  born  the  27*^  day  of  July 
Anno  13  om.  1648. 

Mary  Boulter  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Grace  Boulter  was  born  about 
the  middle  of  May  Ano.  Dom.  1648. 

Hanna  Pettet  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Christian  Pettet  was  born  the 
beginning  of  February  Anno  Dom.  1647. 

Thomas   Roby  son   of  Henry  and  Ruth  Roby  was  born  the  f day  of 

March  Anno  Dom.  1645  or  '46. 

John  Roby  son  of  Henry  Roby  and  Ruth  was  born  the  2  day  of 
February  An.  Dom.  1648. 

Mercy  Hall   daughter  of  Ralph    Hall    aged  about year   and  a  half 

departed  this  life  in  July,  1648. 

Hildea  Hall  daughter  of  Ralph  and  Mary  Hall  was  born  the  16^11  of 
April  1649. 


EXETER  MARRIAGES,  BIRTHS  AND  DEATHS. 

Taken  from  the  records  of  old  Norfolk  County  hy  William  Smith, 
Esq.,  not  on  the  town  records. 

MARRIAGES. 

Nicholas  Norris  and  Sarah  Coxe  ;  21  Jan.  1664-5. 
Edward  Smith  and  Mary  HaU ;  1668. 
Anthony  Stanyan  and  Ann  Partridge  ;   1  Jan.  1655-6. 
George  Veasey  and  Mary  Wiggin  ;  23  Jan.  1664. 
John  Warren  and  Deborah  Wilson  ;  21  Oct.  1650. 
Humphrey  Wilson  and  Judith  Hersey ;  21  Dec.  1665. 

'  5a 


66  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

BIRTHS. 

Mary,  d.  of  John  Bean ;  18  June  1655. 

Henry,  s.  of  John  Bean  ;  5  March  1662. 

Mary,  d.  of  Thomas  and  Mary  Cornish  ;  July  1648. 

Sarah,  d.  of  Cornelius  and  Sarah  Conner ;  23  Aug.  1659. 

Lydia,  d.  of  John  and  Hester  Cram  ;  27  July  1648. 

Mary,  d.  of  William  Hackett;  2  Dec.  1665. 

Mary,  d.  of  Ralph  and  Mary  Hall ;  15  Jan.  1647. 

Elizabeth,  d.  of  Henry  Magoon ;  29  Sept.  1670. 

George,  s.  of  George  Veasey  ;  20  Oct.  1665. 

Edward,  s.  of  George  Veasey  ;  27  April  1667. 

A  son  of  Gowen  Wilson,  b.  and  d.  Nov.  1647. 

DEATHS. 

Edward  Eurin  (?) ;  9  Nov.  1667. 

Mary,  d.  of  Ralph  and  Mary  Hall;  middle  of  June  1648. 

Edward  Veasey  ;  7  Nov.  1667. 


BAPTISMS 

OP    CHILDREN  IN    THE  FIRST    SOCIETY  FROM    1743    TO  1763. 

The  following  list  is  copied  from  a  manuscript  record  kept  by 
the  Rev.  Woodbridge  Odlin,  of  all  the  children  baptized  by  him 
between  the  years  mentioned.  It  will  be  seen  at  once  how  small 
a  proportion  of  the  births  are  recorded  upon  the  books  of  the 
town  ;  probably  not  nearly  one-tenth  of  the  whole  number.  Mr. 
Odlin's  parish  embraced  only  about  two-thirds  of  the  families  of 
the  town ;  and  children  born  of  parents  in  the  other  parish  were 
baptized  by  their  minister.  Mr.  Odlin's  manuscript  contained 
also  a  number  of  names  already  given  in  the  *•'  Family  Register," 
and  not  repeated  here,  and  a  few  baptisms  of  children  belonging 
to  other  towns  where  he  preached,  and  those  are  omitted. 

The  children  were  usually  baptized  at  the  age  of  from  two  days 
to  one  month,  accoixling  to  the  convenience  of  the  pastor.  Some- 
times there  is  an  interval  of  only  three  or  four  months  between  the 
baptisms  of  two  in  the  same  family.  In  such  cases  one  was 
probably  considerably  older. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  67 

Stephen,  s.  of  Benjamin  Atkinson;  26  June  1763. 

Mary,  d.  of  Benjamin  Atkinson ;  24  July  1763. 

Joshua  and  Cornelius,  sons  of  Joshua  Batchelder  deceased;  16  April  1758. 

Benjamin,  s.  of  Jeremiah  Bean  ;  26  July  1747. 

John,  s.  of  Joshua  Bean;  28  June  1747. 

Abigail,  d.  of  Nathaniel  Bean  ;  20  March  1747-8. 

Deborah,  d.  of  Sarah  Bean  ;  7  Nov.  1749. 

Francis,  s.  of  Dudley  Beckett;  23  March  1755. 

Dudley,  s.  of  Dudley  Beckett;  2  Jan.  1757. 

Deborah,  d.  of  Dudley  Beckett;  6  Jan.  1760. 

Sarah,  d.  of  Dudley  Beckett ;  1  Nov.  1761. 

Pernal,  d.  of  Francis  Becket ;  10  March  1745. 

Deborah,  d.  of  Francis  Beckett;  10  Dec.  1747. 

Betty,  d.  of  John  Bellomy;  11  July  1762. 

William,  s.  of  Benjamin  Boardman  ;  4  July  1762, 

Mercy,  d.  of  John  Bond;  2  Feb.  1755. 

Jane,  d.  of  John  Bond  ;  24  July  1757. 

Jean,  d.  of  John  Bond  ;  10  Dec.  1758. 

Susanna,  d.  of  John  Bond  ;  29  June  1760. 

John,  s.  of  John  Bond  ;  5  Sept.  1762. 

Susanna,  d.  of  John  Bowden;  13  Sept.  1747, 

Margaret,  d.  of  John  Bowden  ;  18  Nov.  1753, 

William  Tyler,  s.  of  John  Bowden ;  5  Oct.  1755, 

Michael,  s.  of  John  Bowden  ;  2  March  1760. 

Olive,  d.  of  Joshua  Brown  ;  7  Aug.  1748. 

Dudley,  s.  of  Samuel  Brown  ;  2  Dec.  1753. 

John,  d.  of  Samuel  Brown  ;  16  Nov.  1760. 

Elizabeth  and  John,  children  of  John  Bucknal;  14  May  1749. 

Elizabeth,  d.  of  James  Calfe;  6  Aug.  1749. 

Jeremiah  and  James  (twins) ,  sons  of  James  Calfe  ;  20  Jan.  1751. 

Lucy,  d.  of  James  Calfe  ;  31  Oct.  1756. 

Lucy,  d.  of  Jeremiah  Calfe,  .Tr.  ;  3  July  1748. 

Mehitable,  d.  of  Jonathan  Cauley;  17  March  1754. 

Levi,  s.  of  Joseph  Chapman;  8  Dec.  1754. 

Mary,  d.  of  Josiah  Chapman;  29  March  1752. 

Tryphena,  d.  of  Fennel  Chapman;  5  Nov.  1758. 

Abigail,  d.  of  Satchell  Clark  ;  5  Aug.  1750. 

Elisabeth,  d.  of  Satchel  Clark ;  15  Feb.  175^. 

Alice,  d.  of  Satchel  Clark  ;  13  Nov.  1757. 

Abigail,  d.  of  Satchel  Clark;  21  Oct.  1759. 

Anne,  d.  of  Thomas  Clark ;  2  Jan.  1757. 

Ebenezer,  s.  of  Ebenezer  Colcord,  Jr. ;  18  Feb.  1753. 

Sarah,  d.  of  Benjamin  Connor  ;  20  April  1755. 

John  and  Moses,  sons  of  David  Connor;  21  Aug.  1748. 

Hannah,  d.  of  Jeremiah  Connor ;  6  April  1 760. 

Tristram  Sanborn,  s.  of  Jeremiah  Connor;  21  Nov.  1762. 

Mary,  d.  of  John  Connor  ;  30  Nov.  1755. 

Joseph,  s.  of  Joseph  Connor  ;  14  Aug.  1 758. 


68  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Jacob,  s.  of  Jonathan  Cram  ;  13  March  1763. 
Martha,  d.  of  George  Creighton  ;  20  March  1747-8. 
George,  s.  of  George  Creighton;  10  June  1750. 
Eobert  Light,  s.  of  Thomas  Creighton  ;  8  March  1761. 
Thomas,  s.  of  Thomas  Creighton;  12  Sept.  1762. 
Isaac,  s.  of  Isaac  Currier;  18  July  1762. 
Ephraim,  s.  of  Isaac  Currier;  26  Sept.  1762. 
Susanna,  d.  of  Minus  Daniels  ;  4  April  1762. 
Reuben,  s.  of  Benjamin  Darling;  22  July  1762. 
John,  s.  of  Lemuel  Davis  ;  30  July  1757. 
Ruth,  d.  of  Lemuel  Davis;  29  July  1759.  ^ 

Abigail,  d.  of  Neheraiah  Dean;  17  June  1759. 
Sarah,  d.  of  Thomas  Dolloff;  6  Nov.  1748. 
Caleb,  s.  of  Andrew  Downer;  11  Aug.  1746. 
Mary,  d.  of  John  Dudley  ;  23  Nov.  1746. 
Odlin,  s.  of  Capt.  TrueAvorthy  Dudley;  14  Feb.  1747-^ 
Dorothy,  d.  of  Trueworthy  Dudley  ;  18  Nov.  1759. 
Dorothy,  d.  of  Trueworthy  Dudley  ;  5  Sept.  1762. 
John,  s!  of  True.  Dudley,  Jr. ;  29  Nov.  1747. 
Abigail,  d.  of  George  Dutch ;  25  March  1 744. 
Mary,  d.  of  George  Dutch  ;  20  July  1746. 
Betty,  d.  of  George  Dutch  ;  29  July  1750. 
Samuel,  son  of  George  Dutch ;  24  Dec.  1752. 
John,  s.  of  George  Dutch  ;  14  Sept.   1755. 
Sarah,  d.  of  George  Dutch  ;  10  June  1759. 
Mary,  d.  of  Jonathan  Edgerly  ;  14  May  1758. 
Mary,  d.  of  Jonathan  Edgerley  ;  28  Sept.  1760. 
John,  s.  of  Jonathan  Edgerley  ;   18  July  1762. 
Noah,  s.  of  Noah  Emery  ;  20  Nov.  1748. 
Richard,  s.  of  Noah  Emery  ;  27  June  1756. 
Joanna,  d.  of  Noah  Emery;  24  Sept.  1758. 
Theresia,  d.  of  Noah  Emery;   12  April  1761. 
Richard,  s.  of  Noah  Emery;  7  Nov.  1762. 
Samuel,  s.  of  Daniel  Favour;   14  April  1749. 
Daniel,  s.  of  Daniel  Favour;  14  April  1751, 
Susanna,  d.  of  Thomas  Flanders  ;  2  June  1745. 
Abigail,  d.  of  Thomas  Flanders;   19  July  1747. 
Joseph,  s.  of  Thomas  Flanders;  30  March  1760. 
Hannah,  d.  of  David  Fogg;  14  Sept.  1755. 
David,  s.  of  David  Fogg;  5  Feb.  1758. 
Molly,  d.  of  David  Fogg  ;  30  March  1760. 
Sarah,  d.  of  David  Fogg;  6  June  1762. 
Sarah,  d.  of  Enoch  Fogg;  14  April  1756. 
Seth  s.  of  John  Fogg  ;  10  May  1752. 
Miriam,  d.  of  John  Fogg;  8  May  1757. 
Jonathan,  s.  of  John  Fogg;  27  Aug.  1759. 
John,  s.  of  John  Fogg  ;  11  Oct.  1761. 
Meribah,  d.  of  Jonathan  Fogg;  29  Aug.  1751. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  69 

Meribah,  d.  of  Jonathan  Fogg;  19  Aug.  1753. 

Samuel,  s.  of  Josiah  Fogg;  31  Oct.  1756. 

Mary,  d.  of  widow  Fogg;  20  July  1755. 

Jonathan  Kingsbury  and  Betty,  ch.  of  Daniel  Folsom  ;  28  June  1747. 

Abigail,  d.  of  James  Folsom;  9  Oct.  1743. 

Sarah,  d.  of  John  Folsom;  29  April  1750. 

Molly,  d.  of  John  Folsom  ;  11  March  1753. 

Theophilus,  s.  of  John  Folsom  ;  29  Aug.  1756. 

Samuel,  s.  of  John  Folsom;  17  June  1759. 

James,  s.  of  John  Folsom;  25  Dec.  1760. 

Elisabeth,  d.  of  John  Folsom  ;  8  Nov.  1761. 

Samuel,  s.  of  John  Folsom;  18  Sept.  1763. 

Eliphalet,  s.  of  John  Folsom,  Jr. ;  28  Feb.  1747-8. 

Susanna,  d.  of  John  Folsom,  Jf. ;  24  Dec.  1752. 

John,  s.  of  John  Folsom,  Jr. ;  31  Aug.  1755. 

Noah,  s.  of  John  Folsom,  Jr. ;  12  Feb.  1758. 

Annah,  d.  of  Jonathan  Folsom;  23  Oct.  1757. 

Samuel  Bradley,  s.  of  Josiah  Folsom;  28  June  1747. 

Martha,  d.  of  Josiah  Folsom  :  4  June  1758. 

Sarah,  d.  of  Josiah,  Folsom  ;  3  Sept.  1758. 
Lydia,  d.  of  Josiah  Folsom  ;  16  Sept.  1759. 

Sarah,  d.  of  Josiah  Folsom  ;   12  April  1761. 

Josiah  Oilman,  s.  of  Josiah  Folsom  ;  13  Feb.  1763. 

Katherine,  d.  of  Peter  Folsom  ;  8  June  1746.^ 

Anna,  d.' of  Peter  Folsom;  6  March  1747-8. 

EHsabeth,  d.  of  Peter  Folsom;  21  June  1752. 

Jonathan,  s.  of  Peter  Folsom;  14  July  1754. 

James,  s.  of  Peter  Folsom  ;  29  Aug.  1756. 

Nicholas,  s.  of  Peter  Folsom  ;  27  May  1759. 

Samuel,  s.  of  Peter  Folsom  ;  8  Nov.  1761. 

Anna,  d.  of  Samuel  Folsom  ;  16  Dec.  1753. 

Anna,  d.  of  Capt.  Samuel  Folsom  :  17  Dec.  1759.  ' 

Deborah,  d.  of  Samuel  Folsom  ;  19  Jan.  1763. 

Mary,  d.  of  Thomas  Folsom;  20  Oct.  1760. 

Anna,  d.  of  Trueworthy  Folsom;  23  Oct.  1763. 

John,  s.  of  John  Fox;  1  June  1755. 

Nathaniel,  s.  of  John  Fox;  31  July  1757. 

John,  s.  of  John  Furnald;  31  Dec.  1752. 

Bartholomew,  s.  of  Daniel  Gale  ;  15  April  1750. 

John  Cartee,  s.  of  John  Gale  ;  19  Dec.  1762. 

Susanna,  d.  of  Susanna  Gale  ;  24  Oct.  1762. 

Josiah,  s.  of  Josiah  George;  22  Feb.  1761. 

Elisabeth,  d.  of  Josiah  George;  6  Dec.  1761. 

Jean,  d.  of  Andrew  Gerrish;  16  Nov.  1760. 

Jonathan, s.  of  Antipas  Oilman;  9  Sept.  1753, 

Dudley,  s.  of  Antipas  Oilman  ;  16  Nov.  1755. 

Betty,  d.  of  Antipas  Oilman;  24  Dec.  1757. 

Alice,  d.  of  Antipas  Oilman;  10  Dec.  1758. 


70  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Lydia,  d.  of  Antipas  Oilman;  29  Nov.  1761. 

William,  s.  of  Biley  Oilman  ;  17  Dec.  1752. 

Biley,  s.  of  Biley  Oilman;  13  Oct.  1754. 

Hannah,  d.  of  Biley  Oilman ;  7  Nov.  1756. 

Molly,  d.  of  Biley  Oilman;  2  Dec.  1759. 

Ezekiel,  s.  of  Bradstreet  Oilman;  11  Nov.  1750. 

Dudley,  s.  of  Bradstreet  Oilman  ;  11  Jan.  1756. 

Chase,  s.  of  Bradstreet  Oilman  ;  19  Feb.  1758. 

Comfort,  d.  of  Bradstreet  Oilman  ;  16  March  1760. 

Bradstreet,  s.  of  Bradstreet  Oilman;  31  Oct.  1762. 

Sarah,  d.  of  Caleb  Oilman,  Jr. ;  9  March  1755. 

Cartee,  s.  of  Caleb  Oilman;  12  Feb.  1758. 

Mary,  d.  of  Caleb  Oilman  ;  22  Feb.  1761. 

Abigail,  d.  of  Cartee  Oilman;  3  Oct.  1762. 

Dolly,  d.  of  Daniel  Oilman  (Cartee's  son) ;  9  Oct.  1748. 

David,  s.  of  David  Oilman;  25  May  1746. 

Mary,  d.  of  David  Oilman  ;  4  Sept.  1748. 

Samuel  Folsom,  s.  of  David  Oilman ;  25  Nov.  1750. 

Elisabeth,  d.  of  David  Oilman;  9  Dec.  1753. 

William,  s.  of  David  Oilman;  10  July  1757. 

Betty,  d.  of  David  Oilman;   19  Aug.  1759. 

Lydia,  d.  of  Israel  Oilman;  28  June  1747. 

Ezekiel,  s.  of  Jeremiah  Oilman  ;  24  Sept.  1758. 

John,  s.  of  John  Oilman,  4th;  14  Feb.  1747-8. 

Mehitable,  d.  of  John  Oilman,  4th  ;  10  May  1752. 

Dorothy,  d.  of  John  Oilman;  8  Aug.  1756. 

John,  s.  of  Jonathan  Oilman  ;  13  Sept.  1747. 

Samuel,  s.  of  Josiah  Oilman  ;  17  Jan.  1759. 

Elisabeth,  d.  of  Josiah  Oilman ;  24  Aug.  1760. 

Jonathan,  s.  of  Josiah  Oilman,  Jr. ;  13  Dec.  1761. 

Mary,  d.  of  widow  Mary  Oilman;  17  Sept.  1760. 

Jonathan,  s.  of  Moses  Oilman;  14  Jan.  1759. 

Abigail,  d.  of  Nathaniel  Oilman;   10  Dec.  1747. 

Mary,  d.  of  Nehemiah  Oilman's  widow ;  29  Nov.  1 758. 

Tristram  and  Sarah,  twin  children  of  Peter  Oilman,  Jr. ;   1    Nov.  1745, 

Nathaniel,  s.  of  Peter  Oilman  ;  20  Aug.  1 749. 

Peter,  s.  of  Peter  Oilman  ;  6  Oct.  1754. 

Nabby,  d.  of  Peter  Oilman;  21  Nov.  1756. 

Zebulon,  s.  of  Peter  Oilman;  24  Sept.  1758. 

Lydia,  d.  of  Peter  Oilman  ;   19  July  1761. 

Simon,  s.  of  Simon  Oilman  ;  29  June  1755. 

Nathaniel,  s.  of  Theo.  Oilman;  3  Feb.  1751. 

Nathaniel,  s.  of  Theo.  Oilman;  20  May  1753. 

Deborah,  d.  of  Theo.  Oilman;   13  April  1755. 

Eliphalet,  s.  of  Theophilus  Oilman;  13  Feb.  1757. 

Molly,  d.  of  Theophilus  Oilman;  12  Aug.  1759. 

Patty,  d.  of  Theophilus  Oilman;  6  Sept.  1761. 

Elisabeth,  d.  of  Theophilus  Oilman;  11  Sept.  1763. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  71 


Rebecca,  d.  of  Benjamin  Gordon;  22  March  1745. 

Benjamin,  s.  of  Benjamin  Gordon  ;  14  April  1755. 

Benjamin,  s.  of  Benjamin  Gordon;  23  Jan.  1757. 

Josiah,  s.  of  Benjamin  Goi'don  ;  2  July  1758. 

Simeon,  s.  of  Benjamin  Gordon;  31  May  1761. 

Esther,  d.  of  James  Gordon;  28  March  1762. 

Jacob,  s.  of  John  Gordon  ;  10  Oct.  1756. 

Nathaniel,  s.  of  Nathaniel  Gordon ;  6  April  1760. 

Mary,  d.  of  Nicholas  Gordon  ;    26  July  1747. 

Abraham,  son  of  Timothy  Gordon;  10  July  1748. 

Mary,  d.  of  Daniel  Grant;  8  April  1744. 

Paul  Hall,  s.  of  Daniel  Grant ;  13  Nov.  1748. 

Daniel,  s.  of  Daniel  Grant;  17  Jan.  1759. 

Anna,  d.  of  Wilson  Graves  ;  23  Dec.  1748. 

Jean,  d.  of  Eliphalet  Hale  ;  12  May  1751. 

Elisabeth,  d.  of  Dr.  Eliphalet  Hale;  21  March  1758. 

WiUiam,  s.  of  Dr.  Eliphalet  Hale;  9  July  1758. 

Susanna,  d.  of  Samuel  Haley;  2  Feb.  1755. 

Esther,  d.  of  Thomas  Haley;  15  July  1744. 

Benjamin,  s.  of  Thomas  Haley;  17  May  1747. 

Sarah,  d.  of  Thomas  Haley  ;  7  Nov.  1756. 

Samuel,  s.  of  Thomas  Haley;  17  June  1759. 

Josiah,  s.  of  Samuel  Hall ;  22  Dec.  1751. 
Edward,  s.  of  Samuel  Hall;  25  Feb.  1753. 

Sarah,  d.  of  Samuel  Hall;  23  June  1754. 
Jonathan,  s.  of  John  Hopkinson;  23  Oct.  1748. 

Moses,  s.  of Hopkinson  ;  17  March  1754. 

Daniel,  s.  of  Joseph  Hoyt;  20  Jan.  1751. 
Jemima,  d.  of  Joseph  Hoyt ;  11  April  1756. 
Elizabeth,  d.  of  Joseph  Hoyt;  20  Oct.  1760. 
Benjamin,  s.  of  William  Hoyt;  14  July  1754. 
William,  s.  of  William  Hoyt ;  8  June  1755. 
Sarah,  d.  of  William  Hoyt ;  10  July  1757. 
Richard,  s.  of  William  Hoyt ;  25  Nov.  1759. 
Nicholas  Smith,  s.  of  William  Hoyt;  26  Sept.  1762. 
Josiah,  s.  of  Kinsley  James  ;  13  Feb.  1745. 
Jonathan,  s.  of  Thomas  Jennes  ;  5  June  1757. 
Bathsheba,  d.  of  John  Judkins  ;  7  Sept.  1746. 
Abigail,  d.  of  John  Judkins;  12  Oct.  1755. 
Bartimeus,  s.  of  Jonathan  Judkins  ;  30  July  1749. 
Hannah,  d.  of  Amos  Kimball ;  23  June  1754. 
Elisabeth,  d.  of  Amos  Kimball;  15  Feb.  1756. 
Anna,  d.  of  Amos  Kimball ;  15  Oct.  1758. 
Abigail,  d.  of  Samuel  Hall;  2  May  1756. 
Nathaniel  Bartlett,  s.  of  Samuel  Hall ;  11  Dec.  1757. 
Meribah,  d.  of  Samuel  Hall ;  3  June  1759. 
Kinsley,  s.  of  Samuel  Hall ;  12  Oct.  1760. 
Elisabeth,  d.  of  Samuel  Hall ;  5  Dec.  1762. 


72  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Anna,  d.  of  Biley  Hardy;  30  Nov.  1746. 

Judith,  d.  of  Biley  Hardy  ;  9  Oct.   1748. 

Sarah,  d.  of  DucUey  Hardy  ;  27  April  1746. 

Mary,  d.  of  Dudley  Hardy;  8  May  1748. 

Theophilus,  s.  of  Dudley  Hardy  ;  27  April  1 755. 

Samuel,  s.  of  Samuel  Harper  ;  31  Jan.  1747-8. 

William,  s.  of  Samuel  Hari>er;  14  June  1752. 

John  Scribner,  s.  of  Samuel  Haii)er  ;  4  May  1755. 

Benjamin,  s.  of  Andrew  Hilton  ;  25  April  1762. 

John,  s.  of  Jeremiah  Hilton  ;  27  June  1756. 

William,  s.  of  Jeremiah  Hilton;  12  Nov.  1758. 

Love  and  Sarah,  ds.  of  widow  Hilton;  10  Nov.  17o4. 

Caleb  and  Mary,  ch.  of  Jacob  Hobbs  ;  26  Feb.  1747-8. 

Amos,  s.  of  Amos  Kimball;  12  Oct.  1760. 

Abigail,  d.  of  Benjamin  Kimball;  28  Oct.  1750. 

Mehitable,  d.  of  Benjamin  Kimball;  7  July  1754. 

Caleb,  s.  of  Benjamin  Kimball;  9  July  1758. 

Trueworthy,  s.  of  John  Kimball,  Jr. ;  27  Sept.  1761. 

Peter  Sanborn,  s.  of  Joseph  Kimball ;  3  Aug.  1760. 

Mary,  d.  of  Nathaniel  Kimball;  23  Nov.  1760. 

Sarah,  d.  of  Nathaniel  Kimball;  22  May  1763. 

Nathaniel,  s.  of  Thomas  Kimball,  Jr. ;  27  May  1753. 

Elisabeth,  d.  of  Thomas  Kimball^  Jr. ;  2  March  1755. 

Nathaniel,  s.  of  Daniel  Ladd ;  9  March  1745-6. 

Nabby,  d.  of  Edwai-d  Ladd;  23  July  1749. 

Joseph,  s.  of  Edwai'd  Ladd,  Jr. ;  30  Jan.  1763.    - 

Anna,  d.  of  Elias  Ladd;  30  Sept.  1744. 

Peter,  s.  of  Samuel  Lamson  ;  30  Aug.  1752. 

Katharine,  d.  of  Samuel  Lamson  ;  3  June  1759. 

Peter,  s.  of  Samuel  Lamson  ;  31  May  1761. 

Gideon,  s.  of  William  Lamson ;  28  June  1747. 

Mary,  d.  of  Daniel  Laiy,  Ji'. ;  21  Dec.  1746. 

Jonathan,  s.  of  Daniel  Lary,  Jr.;  4  Sept.  1748. 

Abigail,  d.  of  Samuel  Lary ;  29  June  1746. 

]>olly,  d.  of  Samuel  Lary ;  3  July  1748. 

Sarah  and  Mercy,  daughters  of  Joseph  Lawrence  ;  26  June  1753. 

Molly,  d,  of  Emerson  Leavitt;  9  March  1755. 

Jeremiah,  s.  of  Jeremiah  Leavitt ;  12  Feb.  1748-9. 

Mary,  d.  of  Jeremiah  Leavitt;  21  March  1756. 

Susanna,  d.  of  John  Leavitt ;  5  Sept.  1756. 

Josiah,  s.  of  John  Leavitt ;  29  April  1759. 

John,  s.  of  John  Leavitt,  Jr. ;  31  Jan.  1762. 

Plannah,  d.  of  John  Leavitt,  Jr. ;  9  Oct.  1763. 

Dorothy,  d.  of  Jonathan  Leavitt ;  14  Sept.  1746. 

Joseph,  s.  of  Jonathan  Leavitt ;  29  Feb.  1747-8. 

Gideon,  s.  of  Jonathan  Leavitt;  26  Nov.  1752. 

Hannah,  d.  of  Jonathan  Leavitt;  21  April  1754. 

Mary,  d.  of  Jonathan  Leavitt ;  24  Oct.  1 756. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  73 


Jonathan,  s.  of  Jonathan  Leavitt ;  3  June  1758. 

Ruth,  d.  of  Jonathan  Leavitt ;  9  Aug.  1761. 

Selah  and  Edward,  sons  of  Joseph  Leavitt ;  20  June  1759. 

Lydia,  d.  of  Joseph  Leavitt;  9  Dec.  1759. 

Mary,  d.  of  Joseph  Leavitt;  29  March  1761. 

Dorothy,  d.  of  Joseph  Leavitt;   16  Oct.  1763. 

Joseph,  s.  of  Nathaniel  Leavitt;  30  Nov.  1755. 

Lydia,  d.  of  Nathaniel  Leavitt ;  5  Dec.  1756. 

Moses,  s.  of  Nathaniel  Leavitt ;  9  Dec.  1759. 

Abigail,  d.  of  Nehemiah  Leavitt;  14  Dec.  1700. 

Reuben,  s.  of  Nehemiah  Leavitt ;  13  March  1763. 

Anne,  d.  of  widow  Leavitt ;  7  Aug.  1757. 

Olive,  d.  of  Ebenezer  Light;  6  Mai'ch  1747-8. 

Mary,  d.  of  Ebenezer  Light;   12  Nov.  1749. 

Jonathan,  s.  of  Jonathan  Lord;  2  Aug.  1761. 

William,  s.  of  Robert  Lord,  Jr. ;  5  July  1761. 

Hannah,  d.  of  Edmund  Lougee;  1  June  1755. 

Betty,  d.  of  Joseph  Lougee  ;   13  March  1747-8. 

Joseph,  s.  of  Joseph  Lougee  ;   12  Aug.  1753. 

Simeon,  s.  of  Joseph  Lougee  ;  28  Sept.  1755. 

John,  s.  of  Joseph  Lougee ;  9  Jan.  1757. 

Nicholas,  s.  of  Joseph  Lougee;  2  Sept.  1759. 

Nicholas,  s.  of  Joseph  Lougee  ;  15  Aug.  1762. 

Mehitable,  d.  of  Moses  Lougee;  28  July  1751. 

Jonathan  Folsom,  s.  of  Moses  Jjougee  ;   18  Nov.  1753. 

John,  s.  of  Moses  Lougee  ;   14  Sept.  1755. 

Noah,  s.  of  Moses  Lougee  ;  24  Sept.  1758. 

Moses,  s.  of  Moses  Lougee;  27  July  1760. 

John,  s.  of  Ebenezer  Lovering;  11  April  1762. 

P]lizabeth,  d.  of  John  Lovering;  14  Sept.  1746. 

Jonathan,  s.  of  John  Lovering;  7  Aug.  1748. 

Jean,  d.  of  John  I^overing  ;  21  Sept.  1755. 

Anna,  d.  of  John  Lovering;  Oct.  1758. 

Richard,  s.  of  John  Lovering ;  18  Jan.  1761. 

Nathaniel,  s.  of  John  Lovering  ;  11  July  1762. 

Mary,  d.  of  John  Prescott  Lovering;  8  Dec.  1754. 

Theophilus,  s.  of  John  Prescott  Lovering;  21  Nov.  1756. 

Penelope,  d.  of  Moses  Lovering ;  31  Aug.  1760. 

Willoughby,  s.  of  Moses  Lovering;  31  Jan.  1762. 

Osgood,  s.  of  Moses  Lovering ;   10  April  1763. 

Dorothy,  d.  of  Biley  Lyford;  7  Sept.  1746. 

Alice,  d.  of  Biley  Lyford ;  3  July  1748. 

Alice,  d.  of  Biley  Lyford  ;  28  April  1751. 

James  Oilman,  s.  of  John  Lyford;  24  Aug.  1746. 

Dudley,  s.  of  Moses  Lyford  ;  6  Aug.  1749. 

Francis,  s.  of  Moses  Lyford  ;  12  May  1751. 

Oliver  Smith,  s.  of  Moses  Lyford;  26  Aug.  1753. 

Mehitable,  d.  of  Moses  Lvford  ;  28  Dec.  1755. 


74  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Jonathan,  s.  of  Moses  Lyford  ;  26  Feb.  1758. 

Kinsley,  s.  of  Theophilus  Lj-ford  ;  22  June  1759. 

Mary,  d.  of  Theophilus  Lyford;  5  July  1761. 

Benjamin,  s.  of  Thomas  Lyford  ;  16  July  1749. 

Dolly,  d.  of  Alexander  Magoon  ;   17  June  1750. 

Elizabeth,  d.  of  Alexander  Magoon;  3  Dec.  1752. 

Jonathan  Leavitt,  s.  of  Alexander  Magoon  ;  1  June  1755. 

Alexander,  s.  of  Alexander  Magoon  ;  26  March  1758. 

Mercy,  d.  of  Alexander  Magoon  ;  4  April  1762. 

Edward,  s.  of  Benjamin  Magoon,  Jr. ;  26  Sept.  1756. 

Josiah,  s.  of  Benjamin  Magoon,  Jr.  ;  25  June  1758. 

Benjamin,  s.  of  Benjamin  Magoon,  Jr. ;  17  Aug.  1760. 

Sarah,  d.  of  Benjamin  Magoon,  Jr.  ;  5  Sept.  1762. 

Hannah  and  Joseph,  s.  and  d.  of  Joseph  Magoon;  18  Sept  1757. 

Ephraim,  s.  of  Joseph  Magoon;  28  Jan.  1759. 

Mary,  d.  of  Samuel  Magoon;   16  June  1754. 

Hannah,  d.  of  Samuel  Magoon;  11  July  1756. 

Elisabeth,  d.  of  Samuel  Magoon;  9  July  1758. 

Maria,  d.  of  Henry  Marsh;  7  Sept.  1746. 

Anna,  d.  of  Abigail  Marshall ;  24  April  1758. 

Jonathan  Thing  and  Simeon,  sons  of  widow  Abigail  Marshall;  1  Oct.  1758. 

Mercy,  d.  of  Joseph  Maylem  ;  7  Dec.  1746. 

Elisabeth,  d.  of  Thomas  Moore;  13  Nov.  1753. 

Martha,  d.  of  Thomas  Moore;  4  June  1759. 

Hannah,  d.  of  Thomas  Moore  ;   10  July  1763. 

Mary,  d.  of  Thomas  Moore,  Jr. ;  14  Dec.  1760. 

Josiah,  s.  of  William  Mooi-e  ;  10  Nov.  1754. 

Josiah,  s.  of  Thomas  Nealey;   11  Oct.  1747. 

Sarah,  d.  of  John  Nelson;  29  June  1746. 

Olive,  d.  of  John  Nelson  ;  4  Dec.  1748. 

Jonathan,  s.  of  John  Xelson;   12  May  1751. 

Josiah,  s.  of  John  Nelson  ;  9  Sept.  1753. 

True  worthy,  s.  of  John  Nelson  ;  20  June  1756. 

Josiah,  s.  of  John  Nelson;  10  Dec.  1758. 

Anna,  d.  of  John  Nelson;   17  May  1761. 

Dudley,  s.  of  Nicholas  Nichols  ;   10  Aug.  1755. 

John,  8.  of  Nicholas  Nichols  ;  3  Dec.  1757. 

Trueworthy,  s.  of  Nicholas  Nichols;  9  Sept.  1759. 

Sarah,  d.  of  Captain  John  Odlin  ;  28  Nov.  1756. 

John,  s.  of  Dr.  John  Odlin;  11  Feb.  1759. 

Mary,  d.  of  John  Odlin,  Jr. ;  17  July  1757. 

John,  s.  of  John  Odlin,  Esq.  ;  21  Oct.  1759. 

Hitty,  d.  of  John  Patridge;  20  March  1747-8. 

Jonathan,  s.  of  John  Partridge;  20  May  1750. 

John,  s.  of  John  Pai'tridge;  23  Dec.  1759. 

Jethro,  s.  of  Jethro  Pearson;  24  Jan.  1744. 

Abigail,  d.  of  Jethro  Pearson  ;  17  May  1747. 

John,  s.  of  Jethro  Pearson;  19  May  1752. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  75 

Edmund,  s.  of  Capt.  Jethro  Pierson;  30  April  1758. 

Taylor,  s.  of  Joseph  Pearson;  20  June  1756. 

Jonathan,  s.  of  Joseph  Pearson  ;  5  Nov.  1758. 

Joseph,  s.  of  Joseph  Pearson;  29  March  1761. 

Jacob,  s.  of  Anthony  Peavey;  26  Jan.  1755. 

Anna,  d.  of  Abraham  Perkms ;  5  Feb.  1759. 

Jonathan,  s.  of  Abraham  Perkins;  30  Nov.  1760. 

Esther,  d.  of  Abraham  Perkins;  24  April  1763. 

Jonathan,  s.  of  Jonathan  Perkins  ;  23  May  1756. 

Joseph,  s.  of  Jonathan  Perkins;  28  March  1758.  ' 

Anne,  d.  of  Jonathan  Perkins;  17  Feb.  1760. 

Joseph,  s.  of  Jonathan  Perkins;  5  Sept.  1762. 

Benjamin,  s.  of  Benjamin  Philbrick  ;  4  Feb.  1749-50. 

Lydia,  d.  of  Benjamin  Philbrick;  8  March  1752. 

Samuel,  s.  of  Benjamin  Philbrick;  15  Dec.  1754. 

Edward,  s.  of  Benjamin  Philbrick;   16  May  1757. 

Samuel,  s.  of  Benjamin  Philbrick  ;  22  April  1759. 

John,  s.  of  Benjamin  Philbrick;   10  May  1761. 

Mary,  d.  of  Benjamin  Philbrick  ;  19  June  1763. 

Mary,  d.  of  David  Philbrick  ;  11  Jan.  1761. 

David,  s.  of  David  Philbrick  ;  21  Feb.  1762. 

Henry,  s.  of  Jacob  Pike  ;  12  Nov.  1758. 

Abigail,  d.  of  Thomas  Piper;  6  Sept.  1761. 

Francis,  s.  of  Thomas  Piper;  24  Oct.  1762. 

Jonathan,  s.  of  Jonathan  Porter;  8  May  1763. 

Bradstreet,  s.  of  Philemon  Prescott ;  21  July  1754. 

Elisabeth,  d.  of  Philemon  Prescott;  11  Sept.  1757. 

Mary,  d.  of  Daniel  Quimby;   12  April  1747. 

Mary,  d.  of  Daniel  Robinson  ;  20  April  1755. 

John,  s.  of  Daniel  Robinson  ;  14  Nov.  1756. 

Mehitable,  d.  of  Daniel  Robinson;  20  Aug.  1758. 

Sarah,  d.  of  Daniel  Robinson;  25  Nov.  1759. 

Daniel,  s.  of  Daniel  Robinson  ;  16  May  1762. 

Anne,  d.  of  Ephraim  Robinson;  22  Dec.  1754. 

Jonathan  and  David  (twins),  s.  of  Josiah  Robinson  ;  10  April  1748. 

Dudley,  s.  of  Josiah  Robinson;   17  May  1752. 

Sarah,  d.  of  Josiah  Robinson;  6  Oct.  1754. 

Lydia,  d.  of  Josiah  Robinson;  5  Sept.  1756. 

Trueworthy,  s.  of  Josiah  Robinson;  20  Jan.  1760. 

Jeremiah,  s.  of  Josiah  Robinson  ;   13  Dec.  1761. 

Eliphalet,  s.  of  Eliphalet  Rollins  ;  17  April  1757. 

Nathaniel,  s.  of  Eliphalet  Rollins  ;  4  Feb.  1759. 

Joshua,  s.  of  Eliphalet  Rollins;  17  May  1761. 

John,  s.  of  Joseph  Rollins  ;  2  June  1754. 

Mary,  d.  of  Joseph  Rollins;  7  Sept.  1755. 

Huldah,  d.  of  Josiah  Rollins;  28  June  1747. 

Josiah,  s.  of  Josiah  Rollins  ;  13  Aug.  1749. 

Hannah,  d.  of  Josiah  Rollins;  29  March  1752. 


76  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Anna,  d.  of  Josiah  Rollins  ;  13  Oct.  1754. 
Mary,  d.  of  Josiah  Rollins  ;  8  May  1757. 
Rhoda,  d.  of  Josiah  Rollins;  27  Aug.  1759. 
Elisabeth,  d.  of  Josiah  Rollins  ;  26  Sept.  1762. 
Jonathan,  s.  of  Charles  Rundlett;  16  March  1755. 
Olive,  d.  of  James  Rundlett;  8  Feb.  1746-7. 
Samuel,  s.  of  Satchel  Rundlet;  18  March  1753. 
Ruth,  d.  of  Satchel  Rundlet ;  18  June  1756. 
Ruth,  d.  of  Satchel  Rundlet ;  12  June  1757. 
Debby,  d.  of  Satchel  Rundlet;  5  Oct.  1760. 
Benjamin,  s.  of  Benjamin  Safford  ;  2  April  1758. 
Joseph,  s.  of  Benjamin  Safford;   10  July  1763. 
Sarah,  d.  of  Abraham  Sanborn;  26  Oct.  1755. 
Mary,  d.  of  Abraham  Sanborn;   17  July  1757. 
Tristram,  s,  of  Abraham  Sanborn  ;  20  March  1763. 
John,  s.  of  Eiisha  Sanborn  ;  28  June  1747. 
Stephen,  s.  of  Phebe  Sanborn;  2  Sept.  1750. 
Daniel,  s.  of  Edward  Scribner  ;  31  July  1748. 
John,  s.  of  Edward  Scribner;  18  Sept.  1757. 
Anna,  d.  of  John  Scribner;  2  Feb.  1755. 
Constant,  d.  of  John  Scribner  ;  20  July  1760. 
John,  s.  of  John  Scribner,  Jr.,  5  Aug.  1750. 
John,  s.  of  Joseph  Scribner  ;  9  Feb.  1755. 
Samuel,  s.  of  William  Sibley  ;  2  Jan.  1 763. 
Benjamin  Folsom,  s.  of  James  Sinclair;  22  Nov.  1761. 
Elisabeth,  d.  of  Richard  Sinclair;  25  July  1762. 
Ebenezer,  s.  of  Richard  Sinclair;  29  Aug.  1762. 
Lydia,  d.  of  Benjamin  Smith;  30  Dec.  1753. 
Betty,  d.  of  Benjamin  Smith  ;  15  Sept.  1757. 
Daniel,  s.  of  Ebenezer  Smith;  8  May  1763. 
Biley,  s.  of  Israel  Smith;   14  June  1747. 
Eliphalet,  s.  of  Jacob  Smith;  18  April  1762. 
Elizabeth,  d.  of  Joseph  Smith;  31  March  1754. 
Sarah,  d.  of  Joseph  Smith ;  7  Sept.  1755. 
Benjamin,  s.  of  Joseph  Smith;  31  Oct.  1756. 
Ljdia,  d.  of  Joseph  Smith;  13  Jan.  1760. 
Mehitable,  d.  of  Joseph  Smith;  22  Nov.  1761. 
Biley,  s.  of  Joseph  Smith,  Jr.  ;  24  May  1752. 
Reuben,  s.  of  Reuben  Smith,  Jr.;  27  Dec.  1747. 
Tabitha,  d.  of  Reuben  Smith  ;  13  Aug.  1749. 
Mehitable,  d.  of  Widow  Smith;  16  Aug.  1757. 
Lydia,  d.  of  Timothy  Somes  ;  22  June  1760. 
John,  s.  of  Timothy  Somes  ;  30  Oct.  1763. 
Josiah,  s.  of  Henry  Steel;  8  March  1746-7. 
Joseph,  s.  of  Henry  Steel ;  9  Oct.  1748. 
Joseph,  s.  of  Henry  Steel ;  20  Jan.  1754. 
Anna,  d.  of  Hem-y  Steel;  11  Jan.  1756. 
Ehsabeth,  d.  of  Henry  Steel ;  9  April  1758. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  77 


Eliphalet,  s.  of  John  Steel ;  27  Feb.  1757. 
Sarah,  d.  of  Edward  Stevens;   13  Nov.  1748. 
Abigail,  d.  of  Edward  Stevens;  8  June  1755. 
Patience,  d.  of  Haley  Stevens  ;  8  Feb.  1746-7. 
John,  s.  of  Nathaniel  Stevens;  29  Sept.  1754. 
Ebenezer,  s.  of  John  Swazey  ;  12  Sept.  1756. 
Abigail,  d.  of  John  Swazey;  14  Jan.  1759. 
John,  s.  of  John  Swazey;   14  Dec.  1760. 
Thomas,  s.  of  John  Swazey  ;  17  April  1763. 
Elizabeth,  d.  of  Joseph  Swasey ;  10  Feb.  1751. 
Apphiah,  d.  of  Joseph  Swasey  ;  9  Sept.  1753. 
Sarah,  d.  of  Daniel  Taylor  ;  2  Sept.  1759. 
Mary,  d.  of  Daniel  Taylor  ;  27  Sept.  1761. 
Betty,  d.  of  John  Taylor;  21  June  1747. 
Dolly,  d.  of  John  Taylor;  5  March  1748-9. 
Osgood,  s.  of  John  Taylor  ;  4  Aug.  1751. 
John,  s.  of  John  Taylor  ;  2  Sept.  1 753. 
Rebecca,  d.  of  Joseph  Taylor,  Jr.  ;  19  Oct.  1755. 
Sarah,  d.  of  Coffin  Thing";  21  June  1759. 
Abigail,  d.  of  Josiah  Thing;  21  June  1747. 
Abigail,  d.  of  Winthrop  Thing;   16  Dec.  1753. 
Winthrop,  s.  of  Winthrop  Thing  ;  23  March  1755. 
Deborah,  d.  of  Winthrop  Thing  ;  30  Jan.  1757. 
Elisabeth,  d.  of  Winthrop  Thing;  18  Feb.  1759. 
Anna,  d.  of  John  Thompson;  16  Jan.  1754. 
Mary,  d.  of  John  Thompson;  29  Feb.  1756. 
Lydia,  d.  of  John  Thompson  ;  9  April  1758. 
John,  s.  of  John  Thompson;   10  Feb.  1760. 
Anna,  d.  of  John  Thompson  ;  6  June  1762. 
Ephraim,  s.  of  Ichabod  Thurston;   17  June  1753. 
James,  s.  of  Ichabod  Thurston;   11  April  1756. 
Anna,  d.  of  Ichabod  Thurston;   11  June  1758. 
Martha,  d.  of  Ichabod  Thurston  ;  7  Dec.  1760. 
Huldah,  d.  of  Christopher  Toppan;  20  Aug.  1749. 
John,  s.  of  Christopher  Toppan;  17  Nov.  1754. 
Samuel,  s.  of  Christopher  Toppan  ;   14  May  1758. 
John,  s.  of  Christoplrer  Toppan  ;  6  July  1760. 
Abraham,  s.  of  Christopher  Toppan;   13  March  1763. 
Peter  Oilman,  s.  of  Daniel  Tilton  :   13  Aprd  1755, 
Robert,  s.  of  Daniel  Tilton;  27  Feb.  1757. 
Elisabeth,  d.  of  Daniel  Tilton;  9  March  1760. 
Mary,  d.  of  Daniel  Tilton;  30  Jan.  1763. 
Samuel,  s.  of  Jeremiah  Veasey  ;  5  April  1747. 
Sarah,  d.  of  Elijah  Vickery  ;  7  Sept.  1746. 
Hannah,  d.  of  Elijah  Vickery;  26  Feb.  1748-9. 
Nabby,  d.  of  Elijah  Vickery;  21  Oct.  1750. 
Betty,  d.  of  Elijah  Vickery  ;   17  Nov.  1754. 
Samuel,  s.  of  Joshua  Vickerv  ;  25  Jan.  1756. 


78  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

Judith,  d.  of  Joshua  Vickery ;  19  June  1757. 

Elisabeth,  d.  of  Edward  Wadleigh  ;  10  June  1753. 

John,  s.  of  Edward  Wadleigh;  6  April  1755. 

Mary,  d.  of  Edward  Wadleigh;  30  July  1757. 

Abraham,  s.  of  Edward  Wadleigh ;  29  April  1759. 

Lydia,  d.  of  Edward  Wadleigh;  3  Aug.  1760. 

Sarah,  d.  of  Edward  Wadleigh;  12  Dec.  1762. 

Daniel,  s.  of  Daniel  AVard  ;  30  July  1749. 

Sarah,  d.  of  Daniel  Ward;  10  Nov.  1754. 

Nathaniel,  s.  of  Daniel  Ward  ;  IS  June  1758. 

Benjamin,  s.  of  Daniel  Ward ;  20  April  1760.         . 

Andrew,  s.  of  Daniel  Ward ;  8  May  1763. 

Winthrop,  s.  of  Winthrop  Watson;  5  Nov.  1756. 

Winthrop,  s.  of  Winthrop  Watson;  25  April  1760. 

Dudley,  s.  of  Matthias  Weeks;  9  May  1762. 

John,  s.  of  Matthias  Weeks  ;  12  Sept.  1762. 

Nabby,  d.  of  James  Whidden;  19  July  1747. 

Joseph,  s.  of  Joseph  Wiggin;    19  Dec.  1762. 

David,  s.  of  Nathaniel  Wiggin  ;  16  May  1757. 

Deborah,  d.  of  Humphrey  Wilson  ;  23  Nov.  1746. 

Susanna  and  Betty,  twin  ch.  of  Joshua  Wilson  ;  13  March  1747-8. 

Rebecca,  d.  of  Joshua  Wilson;  29  Oct.  1749. 

John,  s    of  James  Young;  14  Feb.  1747-8. 

Samuel  and  Daniel,  twin  s.  of  Jonathan  Young;  9  Oct.  1743. 


PUBLISHMENTS 

OF    INTENTIONS    OF    MARRIAGE    IN    EXETER    FROM    1783    TO    1800. 

JosiAH  GiLMAN,  Jr.,  clevk  of  the  town  between  the  above  dates, 
kept  a  memorandum-book  in  which  he  set  down  all  the  publish- 
ments made  during  his  term  of  office.  The  subsequent  marriages 
of  the  parties  appear  upon  the  town  records  in  about  one-half  of 
the  cases.  Of  course  it  is  to  be  presumed  that  marriages  were 
duly  solemnized  in  all  the  other  cases,  with  possibly  a  few  excep- 
tions. 

The  following  list  is  transcribed  from  Mr.  Oilman's  memo- 
randum ;  omitting  of  course  the  publishments  of  parties  whose 
marriages  already  appear  in  this  work. 

Lt.  Samuel  Adams,  Elizabeth  Parker;  1  May  1784. 

Ezekiel  Barstow,  Mary  Conner;  27  Sept.  1799. 

Edmund  Batchelder,  Mary  Lord  ;  26  Oct.  1799. 

John  Bean  of  Poplin,  Molly  Kimball;  25  March  1786. 

Dudley  Beckett,  Hannah  Langiey;  25  March  1792. 

Francis  Becket,  Sally  Dudley  ;  2  Oct.  1790. 

Azariah  Beede  of  Kingston,  Elizabeth  Lord  ;  8  July  1786. 

Jacob  Blasdel,  Elizabeth  Sanborn;  17  Dec.  1784. 

Robert  Bond,  Hannah  Calfe ;  14  Jan.  1792. 

Capt.  Nathaniel  Boardman,  Susanna  Smith  ;  18  Jan.  1800. 

John  Brimhall,  Dorothy  Richardson  of  Newmarket ;   11  Aug.  1791. 

William  Brooks,  Tabitiia  Glover  of  Marblehead  ;  22  Aug.  1786. 

John  Burley,  Abigail  Smith  ;  19  March  1785. 

Jeremiah  Calfe  of  Sanbornton,  Mrs.  Hannah  Creighton;  3  Nov.  1797. 

Rev.  Thomas  Cary  of  Newbury,  Deborah  Prince  ;   16  Aug.  1783. 

John  Chase  of  Kensington,  Martha  Thurston  ;  Nov.  1783. 

Thomas  Cheswell,  Betsey  Eastham ;  28  Oct.  1787. 

Thomas  Clark  of  Nottingham,  Mary  Colcord;  29  Sept.  1792. 

Gideon  Colcord  of  Newmarket,  Mrs.  Lois  Lyford  ;   19  July  1799. 

Benjamin  Conner,  Jr.,  Elizabeth  Shepard  of  Brentwood;   16  Oct.  1784. 

John  Conner,  Jr.,  Nancy  Shepard  of  Brentwood  ;  16  April  1791. 

John  Cook,  Elizabeth  Blasdell;  9  Aug.  1783. 

Richard  Cross,  Lj'dia  Harford  ;  27  June  1 789. 

79 


80  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

George  Curtis,  Temperance  Dame;  19  April  1783. 

Josiah  Danford  of  New  Andover,  Sarah  Judkins  ;  4  Dec.  1785. 

John  Daniels,  Abigail  Taylor;   18  June  1791. 

Joseph  Daniels,  Molly  Akers  ;  30  Oct.  1790. 

Nathaniel  Davis,  Anne  Fall  of  Kingston  ;  2-3  Nov.  1797. 

Ward  Clark  Dean,  Margaret  Wood  of  Charlestown;   3  Nov.  1796. 

Gideon  Doe  of  Parsonsfield,  Mrs.  Sarah  Gilman  ;   12  July  1799. 

Richard  DollofT,  Judith  Fellows  ;   12  June  1785. 

Richard  DoUoff,  Jr.,  Tammy  Knowlton  of  Ipswich  ;   10  May  1788. 

Benjamin  Dow,  Catharine  Robinson;  24  Feb.  1787. 

Chandler  Dow  of  Epping,  Abigail  Robinson  ;  6  March  1790. 

Zebulon  Duda  of  Newmarket,  Mary  Gilman;   14  July  1796. 

Francis  B.  Eastham,  Love  Tuck  of  Kensington ;  18  Sept.  1785. 

Nehemiah  Emery,  Mary  Henderson  ;  6  April  1799. 

Robert  Emery,  Eunice  Orne  of  Salem,  Mass.  ;  15  June  1795. 

Cato  Fiske,  Alice  Wooso  of  Brentwood  ;  17  Nov.  1785. 

Abel  Fogg,  Polly  Smith  of  Stratham  ;   14  Feb.  1795. 

Jonathan  Folsam,  Sarah  Green  of  Stratham  ;  2  Oct.  1784. 

Josiah  Folsom,  Jr.,  Sally  Lane  of  Stratham  ;  3  Oct.  1795. 

Nehemiah  Folsom,  Elizabeth  Taylor  of  Hampton;  21  May  1791. 

Nicholas  Folsom,  Dorothy  Leavitt  of  Northfield  ;  27  June  1784. 

Simeon  Folsom,  Mary  Leavitt;  18  Jan.  1800. 

James  Foster  of  Canterbury,  Mrs.  Betsey  Sanborn  ;  27  Nov.  1789. 

Antipas  Oilman,  Deborah  Duda  of  Newmarket;  18  March  1796. 

Ephraim  D.  Gilman,  Abigail  Sanborn  of  Barnstead;  20  Aug.  1791. 

James  Gilman,  Jr.,  Betsey  Lyford;  12  Dec.  1789. 

Joseph  Gilman  of  Gilmanton,  Sarah  Fogg;  17  Aug.  1798. 

Theophilus  Gilman.  Jr.,  Lois  Lyford;   16  Oct.  1790. 

Benjamin  Gordon,  Lydia  Eastman  of  Kensington  ;  23  Oct.  1790. 

Joseph  Gordon,  Jr.,  Sarah  Smith  of  Stratham  ;  14  Feb.  1789. 

William  Gordon,  Hannah  Ladd ;  March  1784. 

Benjamin  Graves,  Jr.,  Polly  Taylor  of  Brentwood;  6  Jan.  1792. 

James  Hackett,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Hodge  of  Newmarket;  18  March  1790. 

William  Hale,  Frances  Haven  of  Wakefield  ;  15  Nov.  1788. 

Capt.  William  Hale,  Sally  Farley  of  Newcastle,  Me.  ;  22  Dec.  1799. 

Jude  Hall,  Rhoda  Paul ;"  21  Jan.  1786. 

John  Hamilton,  Mary  Eastham  ;  12  March  1796. 

James  Hanaford,  Mercy  Dudley;  31  July  1784. 

Joshua  Hill,  Lucy  Chase  of  Stratham  ;  18  Sept.  1789. 

Edward  Hilton,  3d.  of  Newmarket,  Elizabeth  Watson  ;  24  Aug.  1792. 

Winthrop  Hilton,  Hepsibah  Dockum  ;  7  Nov.  1788. 

Dudley  Bradstreet  Hobart,  Sophia  Dearborn  of  Pittston,  Mass. ;  17  Jan.  1790. 

Samuel  Hobart,  Sarah  Adams  ;   16  Oct.  1784. 

Stephen  Hodgdon  of  Limerick,  Mai-y  Hill ;  June  1788. 

William  Hoit,  Elizabeth  Young  Trickey,  residents  ;  23  Feb.  1793. 

William  Hook  of  Salisbury,  Sarah  Watson;   17  May  1794. 

Samuel  Hopkinson,  Hannah  Thurston  ;  25  Feb.  1792. 

Capt.  Henry  Jackson  of  Boston,  Hannah  Swett;   14  Sept.  1799. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER.  81 

David  Jewett,  Polly  Shepard  of  Brentwood;  7  Oct.  1786. 

Caleb  Johnson  of  Hampstead,  Maiy  Thurston;   13  Aug.  1785. 

John  Johnson,  Margaret  Greenough  ;  5  Sept.  1789. 

Seth  Johnson,  Jr.,  of  Haverhill,  Ruth  Graves  :   11  June  1791. 

Samuel  Judkins,  Mary  Gushing;  5  March  1785. 

Daniel  Kelly  of  North  Hampton,  Polly  Nichols  ;  6  June  1790. 

William  Kelly,  Elizabeth  Robinson  ;  28  June  1788. 

Daniel  Kimball,  Sally  Oilman  ;  17  Jan.  1790. 

John  Lamson,  Sally  Townsend  of  Charlestown  ;  26  Sept.  1793. 

Oilman  Leavitt  of  Brentwood,  Lydia  Barker;  29  April  1786. 

Luke  Libbey,  Nancy  Crocker  ;  2S  Nov.  1784. 

Samuel  Loud,  Sarah  Elliott ;  2  July  1791. 

Joseph  Lovering,  Eunice  Smith  of  Newbury  ;  20  Jan.  1798.    ■ 

Francis  Lyford,  Mary  Oilman  (Biley's) ;  27  Sept.  1783. 

James  Lyford  of  Canterbury,  Deborah  Lyford  ;  8  Sept.  1792. 

John  Lyford,  Anne  Hilton  of  Kingston;  30  Aug.  1799. 

Theodore  Lyford,  Rachel  Colcord  of  Newmarket ;  16  Sept.  1797. 

Capt.  Henry  McClintock  of  Greenland,  Anne  Halliburton  :  6  July  1799. 

Stephen  Marsh  of  Hubbardston,  Betsey  Webster  ;  4  Jan.  1788. 

John  Melcher  of  Gilraanton,  Rebecca  Grant;  17  Aug.  1798. 

Daniel  Williams  Merrill,  Mary  Wilson  Trickey,  residents  ;  26  Jan.  1793. 

Jonathan  Moody  of  Brentwood,  Betsey  Haley  ;  9  Dec.  1787. 

William  Moody  of  Newbury,  Sarah  Kimball;  29  Sept.  1787. 

Coffin  Moore  of  Lancaster,  Dolly  Leavitt ;  6  Feb.  1790. 

Joseph  Moses,  Martha  Wiggin  of  Stratham  ;  25  Jan.  1800. 

William  Moulton,  Molly  Page  of  North  Hampton ;  24  Oct.  1795. 

Nicholas  NicoUe,  Jr.,  Catharine  Sanborn  ;  18  Dec.  1785. 

John  Nichols,  Esther  Proctor  of  Kingston;  19  June  1785. 

James  Norris,  Lydia  Sherriff;  Nov.  1783. 

Charles  O'Conner,  Mary  Spenley  ;  28  May  1785. 

George  Odiorne,  Polly  Brackett  of  Quincy  ;   12  Nov.  1794. 

Samuel  Odlin,  Polly  Groves  of  Beverly  ;  4  Feb.  1792. 

Jacob  Paul,  Dorcas  Avery  of  Kingston;  3  Sept.  1791. 

Scipio  Paul,  Sarah  Phelp  of  Pembroke  ;   17  July  1789. 

James  Pickering,  Piosamond  Fabins  of  Newington  ;   17  Feb.  1798. 

Moses  Pierce  of  South  Hampton,  Anne  Lovering  ;  8  June  1799. 

John  Philbrick,  Mehitable  Lary  of  Stratham  ;  20  Sept.  1788. 

Jeremiah  Prescott  of  Gilmanton,  Polly  Swasey  ;  16  July  1785. 

John  Prescott,  Elizabeth  NicoUe  ;  20  June  1795. 

Jacob  Randall,  Rebecca  Masters ;  22  Dec.  1792. 

Thomas  Rankin,  Mrs.  Esther  McKim  ;  March  1784. 

Henry  Ranlet.  Betsey  Hall ;  20  Jan.  1787. 

Caleb" Robinson,  Jr.,  Judith  Robinson;  18  Feb.  1792. 

Jeremiah  Robinson,  Mary  Page  of  North  Hampton  ;  2  Oct.  1784. 

John  Ptobinson,  Elizabeth  Smith  of  Stratham  ;  23  July  1796. 

Jonathan  Robinson,  Mary  Rollins  ;  7  Feb.  1796. 

Joseph  Robinson,  Jr.,  Sarah  Dow  of  Epping;  9  Dec.  1796. 

Daniel  Rollins  of  Sanbornton,  Abigail  Godfrey  ;   17  Dec.  1796. 
6a 


82  HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 

John  Rook  of  Nova  Scotia,  Elizabeth  March  ;  26.  March  1785. 

Rev.  William  F.  Rowland,  Sally  Ladd  of  Portsmouth  ;  10  June  1 793. 

David  Rundlett  of  Stratham,  Rhoda  Robinson  ;  11  Aug.  1794. 

Josiah  Rundlett,  Mary  Ward  ;  10  Aug.  1793. 

Samuel  Rust,  Jr.,  Betsey  Beckett ;   18  March  1795. 

Benjamin  Saflbrd,  Jr.,  Judith  Vickery  of  Hampton  Falls;  22  April  1786. 

Joseph  Safford,  Betty  Towle  of  Hampton  ;  29  Oct.  1791. 

Lieut.  Abraham  Sanborn,  Mrs.  Mary  Parsons  of  Amesbury ;  31  July  1790. 

Edward  Sanborn  of  Epping,  Deborah  Gushing  ;  3  Sept.  1791. 

Jeremiah  Sanborn  of  Sanbornton,  Theodate  Sanborn;  3  Oct.  1786. 

Jesse  Sanborn,  Sally  Stevens  of  Stratham;  14  Jan.  1796. 

William  Sanborn,  Anne  Lovering  of  North  Hampton  ;   18  Jan.  1794. 

William  Seward  of  Boston;  Hannah  Hackett ;  10  Feb.  1798. 

John  Shaw,  Elizabeth  Folsom  ;  28  May  1785. 

Nathan  Shaw  of  Kensington,  Sarah  Haines;  3  Nov.  1787. 

Jonathan  Shepard,  Elizabeth  Severance  of  Kingston  ;   1  Dec.  1792. 

William  Short,  Patty  Nowell  of  Newburyport ;  9  Dec.  1787. 

Levi  Sleeper  of  Kingston,  EHzabeth  Lovering;  1  Feb.  1800. 

Caleb  Smith,  Lydia  Gordon  ;  12  Dec.  1789. 

David  Smith,  Sally  Bennett ;  25  June  1795. 

Ebenezer  Smith  of  Gilmanton,  Judith  Pearson;  3  Jan.  1789. 

John  Smith,  Hannah  Wiggin  of  Stratham  ;  8  March  1794. 

Peter  Smith  of  Brentwood,  Hannah  Sanborn;  2  Aug.  1783. 

Reuben  Smith.  Elizabeth  Wadleigh  ;  9  May  1789. 

Richard  Smith  of  Pittsfield,  Sally  Oilman;   16  July  1785. 

Chase  Stevens,  Hannah  Dow;  29  Dec.  1798. 

George  Sullivan,  Clarissa  Larason ;  7  Sept.  1799. 

Ebenezer  Swasey,  Jr.,  Mary  Lyford  ;  Jan.  1784. 

Joseph  Swasey,  3d,  Elizabeth  Fogg  ;  7  Aug.  1790. 

Nathaniel  Swasey,  Mehitable  Rowe  ;  25  Aug.  1792. 

Dr.  Samuel  Tenney,  Tabitha  Oilman;  6  Sept.  1788. 

Lieut.  Winthrop  Thing,  Lydia  Oilman;  28  March  1794. 

Daniel  Thurston  of  Stratham,  Hannah  Creighton  ;   1  June  1792. 

Oliver  Thurston,  Anstris  Cross;  25  Aug.  1792. 

Reuben  Thurston,  Sarah  Cross  ;  19  Nov.  1796. 

David  Tilton  of  Hampton  Falls,  Mrs.  Mary  Merrill;   11  Jan.  1800. 

George  Trefetheren,  Anne  Hilton ;  3  Jan.  1 789. 

John  Wadleigh,  Polly  Becket ;  25  Dec.  1785. 

David  Watson,  Elizabeth  Hook  of  Chichester  ;  21  May  1795. 

AVilliam  Webb,  Deborah  Nelson;  30  April  1795. 

Benjamin  Wentworth  of  Portsmouth,  Abigail  Bennett ;   17  May  1795. 

Gideon  Wiggin,  Dorothy  Lyford  ;  22  July  1797. 

Joseph  Wiggin,  Jr.,  Mehitable  Kimball;  Aug.  1788. 

John  Wilson  of  Sandwich,  Abigail  B.  Hopkinson  ;  6  Aug.  1791. 

Samuel  Winslow,  Sally  Johnson  ;  25  July  1794. 

Daniel  York  of  Brentwood,  Anne  Smart ;  17  Sept.  1799. 


INDEX. 


The  alphabetical  arrangement  of  names  which  is  adopted  in 
this  work  is  believed  to  obviate,  in  great  part,  the  need  of  a  very 
copions  index. 


Abbot,  Benjamin,  294. 

Academy,  Phillips  Exeter,  126. 

Advent  society  and  pastors,  207. 

Allen  V.  Waldron,  10. 

Andros,  Edmund,  6S. 

Antinomian,  6. 

Aqueduct,  101,  103. 

Association  test  of  1776,  90. 

Authors  in  Exeter,  311. 

Bachiler,  Stephen,  15.5,  156. 

Banks,  343. 

Baptisms  in  first  society.  Gen.,  66. 

Baptist  society  and  pastors,  201. 

Barker,  Josiah,  86,  93. 

Barlow,  George,  IS,  22. 

Bates,  George,  12,  22. 

Bean,  John,  59,  119. 

Bells,  183,  188. 

Bell.  James,  107,  368. 

Bicentennial  celebration,  106;  ad- 
dress. Appendix  III.  448. 

Biggs,  Thomas,  43,  44,  59,  131. 

Births  in  Exeter,  Gen.,  63, 

Blake,  Sherburne,  107, 108. 

Booth,  Robert,  59,  131. 

Boulter,  Nathaniel,  44,  45,  59,  131. 

Bounds  of  Exeter,  113:  enlargement 
of,  117. 

Brentwood  parish  set  off,  184. 

Bridges,  124,  125. 

Bridger,  Col.  John,  70,  72. 

Brooks,  Samuel,  84,  85,  86,  88,  93, 
197. 


Bulgar,  Richard,  12,  17,  19,  22,  44, 

47,  48,  131. 
Burial-places,  408. 
Burley,  James,  108,  395. 
Bursley,  John,  45,  59. 
Cadets,  Exeter,  239. 
Carleton,  Theodore,  80,  85,  86,  88. 
Cartee,  Philip,  59,  65,  119. 
Cass,  Jonathan,  98,  394. 
Cass,  LeAvis,  108,  394. 
Cattle,  care  of  the,  49. 
Census  of  1775,  87. 
Chadwick,  Peter,  107,  198,  421. 
Chesley,  Philip,  59. 
Christian  society  and  pastors,  204. 
Church,  first,  12  ;  re-organized,  174. 
Clark,  Rev.  John,  171,  175,  176. 
Clark,  John,  59,  116. 
Clifibrd,  Ebenezer,  418. 
Cobbs,  Waddy  V.,  396. 
Coffin,  Eliphalet,  80,  180. 
Coffin,  Peter,  69,  72,  80,  86,   88,  93, 

171,  172,  174,  175,  176,   177,  181, 

221,  239,  351. 
Colcord,  Edward,  9,  23. 
Colcord,  Harvey,  201. 
Cole,  William,  8,  18,  23,  44. 
Collins,  Moses  N.,  281. 
Colored  population,  395. 
"  Combination"  for  government,  15. 
Common  field,  133,  137,  141. 
Compton,  John,  8,  23,  318. 
Conner  family,  392. 
83 


84 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


Connor,  Jeremiah,  59,  71,  181,  182.      I 
Constitution,  earliest  written,  89. 
Conventions,  constitutional,  95,  99, 

101. 
Copeland,  Lawrence,  8,  24. 
Copyhold,  73. 
Cornish,  Thomas,  59,  114. 
Cotton,  Rev.  John,  6,  169. 
Court-house,  71,  101,  106,  108. 
Cram,  John,  18,  24,44. 
Cranfield,  Edward,  63,  64,  65,  66. 
Crawley's  falls,  322. 
Crawley,  Thomas,  18,  24,  131,  322. 
Crown  Point  expeditions,  233. 
Cunningham,  Timothy,  227. 
Deane,  Thomas,  180,  378. 
Dean,  Ward  Clark,  101. 
Dearborn,  Godfrey,  18,  25. 
Dearborn,  Henry,  245. 
Deaths  in  Exeter,  Gen.,  64. 
Derby,  James,  341. 
Dollofi;  Cln-istian,  59,  65,  119. 
DoUoff,  Richard,  children,  225. 
Drake,  Abraham,  44,  45,  59,  123. 
Dudley  family,  390. 
Dudlev,  Biley,  59,  167,  169,  175. 
Dudley,  John,  80,  200,  390. 
Dudley,  Rev.  Samuel,  engaged,  159; 
defended,  161;  new  contract,  164; 
his  salary,  166;  death  of,  168. 
Dudley,  Theophilus,  59,  72, 167,  174, 

175,  176,  177. 
Dunbar,  David,  73,  74,  75. 
Elkins,  Henry,  12,  17,  25,  59. 
Emery,  Noah,   80,  89,  91,  99,  247, 

355. 
Episcopal  society  and  pastors,  210. 
Epping  parish  set  oft',  184. 
Exeter,  5,  10,  11  ;  statistics,  425. 
Families,  early:  Dudley,   390;  Fol- 
som,    391  ;    Leavitt,    Thing,   Con- 
ner, Lyford,  392  ;  Gordon,  Robin- 
son, Smith,  Odlin,  etc.,  393. 
Family  Registers,  Gen.,  3. 
Farrar,  Timothy,  107,  370. 
Fellowes,  .Teremiah,  364. 


Female  academy,  299. 

Field,  Darby,  14,  18,  25. 

Fire  engines,  101,  103;  steam  110. 

Fish,  Gabriel,  16,  17,  25. 

Fishery  in  rivers,  47. 

Flats  divided,  132. 

Folsom  family,  391. 

Folsom,   John,    53,    56,   59,  65,  66, 

116,  118,  119,  123,  171,  175,  180, 

182. 
Folsom,   Nathaniel,  59,   65,  80,  81, 

83,  86,  87,  93,  232,  234,  391. 
Folsom,  Peter,  57,  58,  59,  65,  116, 

119,  167,  171. 
Folsom,  Samuel,  59,  80,  81,  82,  86, 

93,  239,  391. 
Fort  William  and  Mary,  raid  upon, 

240;  powder  from,  241. 
Fowle,  Robert  L.,  96,  301. 
French,  Henry  F.,  372. 
Furnald,  Joseph,  107. 

Gardner,  John,  419. 
Garland,  John,  59,  62,  161. 
General  court,  7,  13,  44,  46,  48. 
Giddinge,  Eliphalet,  91,  93, 190,  422. 
Giddinge,  John,   80,  84,  86,  87,  89, 

91,  380. 
Giddinge,  Zebulon,  73,  75,  78,  188, 

422. 
Gilman,  Daniel,  423. 
Gilman,  Edward,  57,  58,  59,  66,  67, 

116,  158,  159,  162,  163,  167,318. 
Gilman,    Edward,  Jr.,   49,    59,    114, 

123. 

Gilman,  Ezekiel,  231. 

Gilman,  John,  58,59,64,  69,  74,  115, 

117,  118,  119,  125,  163,  164,  171, 
174,  175,  179,  181,  349. 

Gilman,  Major  John,  336. 

Gilman,    John   T.,    92,    93,  99,  104. 

126,  421. 
Gilman,  Joseph,  81,  84,  86,  91,  419. 
Gilman,  Josiah,  80,  82,  93,  181,  194. 
Gilman,  Moses,  59,  118,  119,  171. 
Gilman,  Nathaniel,  97,  180,  182,  198. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


85 


Oilman,  Nathaniel  3cl  106.  108,  126, 

191,  2.57. 

Oilman,  Nicholas,  70,  74,  80,  81,  S4, 

86,  87,  92,  98,  99,   120,  126,  174, 

175,  177,  178,  180,  181,  185,  352. 

Oilman,  Nicholas,  Jr.,  gift  for  pious 

uses,  195. 
Oilman,  Peter,  78,  80,  81,  82,  180, 

182,  189,  194,  195,  416. 
Oilman,  Samuel,  73,  76,  80,  82,  84, 

180,  181,  186,  194,  195,  352. 
Oordon  family,  393. 
Oordon,  Alexander,  59,  218. 
Oordon,  Nathaniel,  86,  91,  93. 
Oordon,  Nicholas,  70,  179,  181. 
Oorham,  David  W.,  387. 
Gove's    rebellion  against   Cranfield, 

63. 
Orants    of  lands   by   town    in  1643 
and  1644, 131  ;  in  1645, 6, 7,  132  ; 
in    1648,   9,  50,  133;    in  1651-2, 
134;  in  1654  to  1664,  135;   1665- 
1678,136;   1681  to  1693,  137;  in 
1697-8,   138;   1699   to   1706,  139; 
1706  to  1724,  143;  in  1725,  141  ; 
in  1740,  146. 
Orant,  Daniel,  91. 
Orant,  Francis,  308. 
Ore  at  bay,  3. 
Oreendeld.    Samuel,  45.  47,  48,  51, 

59,  131. 
Orist-mills,  324. 
Oross,  Isaac,  12,  19,  26. 
Ilackett,  James,  243,  338. 
Hale,  Eliphalet,  86,  93,  380. 
Hall,  Kinsley,  61,  65,  169,  173,  174, 

175,  350. 
Hall,  Ealph,  4,  18,  26,  62,  65,  116, 

118,119,  131,  166. 
Hatch,  Samuel,  395. 
Helme,  Chi-istopher,  IS,  26. 
Hethersay,  Ptobert,  45,  60,  131. 
Highways,    repairs    of,    122;    laying- 
out,  123,  125. 
Hildreth,  Rev.  Hosea,  198,  294. 
Hilton,  Dudley.  225. 


Hilton,  Edward,  3,  8,  20,  27,  56, 
114,  115,  130,  157,  159,  163,  173. 

Hilton,  Richard,  77,  173,  176,  177, 
352. 

Hilton,  Col.  AVinthrop's  expeditions, 
223  ;  death,  225. 

Hilton,  William,  20,  27,  68,  130. 

Hobart,  Samuel,  328. 

Homicides  in  Exeter,  Mrs.  Willix, 
403  ;  Johnson,  404  ;  John  Wad- 
leigh,  405 ;  Mrs.  Ferguson,  407. 

Houses,  early  :  Clifford  house,  416  ; 
Dean  house,  418 ;  Ladd  house, 
420  ;  Rowland  house,  422 ; 
Odiorne  house,  Hildreth  house, 
423 ;  Peabody  house,  Oilman 
house,  424 ;  Tilton  house,  425. 

Hoyt,  Joseph,  9,  109,  295. 

Hutchinson,  Anne,  6,  7,  11. 

Hutchinson,  Samuel,  8,  28. 

Independence,  earliest  suggestion  of, 

87. 
Indian  deeds  of  1638,  8,  9  ;  of   1639, 

14;  disputed   deed   of  1629,   10; 

Appendix  1,431. 
Indian  wars,  215. 
Inhabitants  prior  to  1680,  59. 
Insurance  companies,  347. 

Jones,  Abner,  204. 

Jones,  Thomas,  45,  60,  131. 

Judges  and  lawyers,  notices  of,  349. 

Kelly,  John,  109,  369. 
Kimming,  John,  60. 
King,  Thomas,  45,  54,  60,  114,   123, 
157,  161,  162. 

Ladd,  Daniel,  229. 

Ladd,  Eliphalet,  190,  420. 

Ladd,  Nathaniel,  60,  64,  167,  181, 
217,421.     ■ 

Lamson,  Oeorge,  364. 

Lamson,  John,  SO,  236,  304. 

Lamprey  river,  3,  20. 

Lamprey,  Henry,  61. 

Lands,  first  allotment  of,  19,  Appen- 
dix 11,  435. 


86 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


Lands,  grants   of,  130;  see  "Grants 

of  lands." 
Lands,  final  distribution  of,  145. 
Lary,  Cornelius,  60. 
Lawrence,  David,  60,  177. 
Lawrence,  Jotham,  198,  363. 
Lawson,  Christopher,  17,  28,  42,  44, 

47,  48,  158. 
Lawyers,  349. 
Leavitt  family,  340. 
Leavitt,  Jeremy,  60,  116. 
Leavitt,  Moses,  60,  65,  70,  167,  169, 

172,  173,  175,  176,  177. 
Leavitt,  Samuel,  53,  60,  68,  119,  171, 

172,  173,  175,  176,  177. 
Leavitt,  Thomas,  4,  18,  29. 

Legat,  John,  44.  45,  50,  51,  52,  60, 
114,  123,  158,  159,  161,  162. 

Legislation,  earliest,  21,  41. 

Light,  John,  69. 

Listen,  Nicholas,  60,  114,  118,  119. 

Littlefield,  Edmund,  18,  29,  317. 

Localities,  426. 

Long,  John  C,  395. 

Lougee,  John,  225. 

Louisburg  expedition,  230. 

Lumbering,  51,  335. 

Lyford  family,  392. 

Manufacturers,  341. 

Marriages,  Gen.,  50. 

Marshall,  Christopher,  12,  30. 

Marston,  Gilman,  109,  111,  279. 

Mason,  John,  55,  62,  65. 

Mason,  Robert  Tufton,  55,  62,  63, 
64,  65. 

Massachusetts  jurisdiction,  45. 

Mast  trees,  70 ;  riot  of  1734,  72. 

Mathews,  Francis,  18,  30. 

Maverick,  Samuel,  55,  56,  57. 

Meeting-houses,  71,  160,  162,    167, 

173,  179,  181,  191,  194,  198. 
Merchants  and  trades,  342. 
Merrill,  Abner  and  sons,  340. 
Merrill,  Charles  A.,  109. 
Merrimac  river,  8,  9,  13. 
Methodist  societ}-  and  pastors,  205. 


Mills  and' manufactures,  317,  331. 

Mob,  paper  money,  of  1786,  96. 

Montague,  Griffin,  30,  317. 

Moore,   William,  30,  44,  45,  68,  118, 
119,  164,  173,  175,  319. 

Morrill,  William  B.,  111. 

Morris,  Richard,  12,  17,  19,  31. 

Moses,  Henry  C,  203,  340. 

Moses,  John  F.,  201,  203,  340. 

Mount  Wollaston,  11. 

Needham,  Nicholas,  8,  9,  17,  31,  42. 

N'ew  Hampshire,  a  royal  province, 
62. 

Newmarket  parish  set  off,  178. 

New  parish,  186  ;  set  off,  188  ;  history 
of,  194. 

News^japers,  301. 

New  Testament  first  printed  in  New 
Hampshire,  304. 

Norris,  Charles,  306. 

Norris,  Nicholas,  60,  127. 

North,  Nathan,  385. 

Notices  of  settlers  of  1638-9,  21. 

Nutter,  Elder  Hatevil,  156. 

Oath  of  the  elders,  18  ;  of  the  people, 
19. 

Odiorne,  Thomas,  80,  86,  304,  339, 
423. 

Odlin  family,  393. 

Odlin,  Rev.  John,  engaged,  177;  sal- 
ary, 182  ;  death  of,  187. 

Odlin,  Rev.  W^oodbridge,  colleague, 
185;  death  of,  189. 

Officers,  town:  rulers,  assistant  rulers, 
town  clerks,  selectmen,  148  ;  mod- 
erators, representatives,  151. 

Oyster  river,  3,  5,  9,  14. 

Paper-mills,  327. 

Paper  money,  70,  93,  95. 

Parker,  Nathaniel,  357. 

Parker,  William,  86,  87,  355. 

Pascataqua  river,  3,  7,  9,  11,  57. 

Peabody,  Nathaniel,  383. 

Peabody,  Oliver,  73,  99,  104,  126, 
356,  424. 

Peabody,  Oliver  W.  B.,  365. 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


87 


Pearson,  Henry  H.,  281. 
Pearson,  Joseph,  395. 
Peavey,  George  C,  375. 
Perkins,  Albert  M.,  282. 
Perry,  William,  191,  385. 
Perryman,  Nicholas,    77,    185,   186, 

354. 
Pettit,  Thomas,  18,  32,  44,  52,  114, 

164. 
Phillips  Exeter  academy,  293 ;  notices 

of  officers  and  benefactors,  294. 
Phillips,  John,  80,  81,  84,  99,  194, 

239,  335. 
Physicians,  notices  of,  378. 
Pickering,  John,  356. 
Pickpocket  mills,  321,  326. 
Pike,  Robert,  114,  117,  118,  119. 
Poor,   Enoch,   80,  81,  86,   87,    245, 

394. 
Poor  of  Boston,  tax  for,  85. 
Poor,  support  of,  105. 
Pormort,  Philemon,  12,  18,  32. 
Powder  house,  82  ;  mills,  328. 
Prayer  in  town  meetings,  105. 
Prices,  scale  of,  fixed,  94. 
Printers,  301. 
Provincial  congress  first,  84  ;  second, 

87;  fifth,  88. 
Public  library,  109. 
PubUshmeuts,   1783    to  1800,  Gen., 

79. 
Quakers,  200. 
Ranlet,  Henry,  102,  304. 
Rashleigh,  Thomas,  44,  60,  131,  155. 
Read,  Robert,  18,  33,  318. 
Rebellion,  see  "  War  for  the  Union." 
Records    of  town,  43,  Appendix  H, 

435. 
Revolutionary  soldiers  from  Exeter, 

in  1775,  242,  245;  in  1776,  247; 

in    1777,    249 ;    in    1778,   251  ;  in 

1779,  253  ;  in  1780,  253  ;  in  1781, 

254 ;    bounties    and    supplies   to, 

255. 
Rice,  John,  gift  of,  189. 
Rishworth,  Edward,  IS,  33,  41. 


Robinson  female  seminary,  291. 
Robinson  family,  393. 
Robinson,  Ephraim,  78,  86. 
Robinson,   John,    60,    75,    123,  163, 

179,  216. 
Robinson,    Jonathan,    60,   65,    167, 

175. 
Roby,  Henry,  18,  33,  44, 45,  50,  123, 

159,  161. 
Rogers,  Rev.  Daniel,  engaged,  195 ; 

death  of,  196. 
Rogers,  John,  395. 
Rogers,  Rainsford,  413. 
Rollins,  Thomas,  60,  64,  116,  218. 
Roman  catholic  society  and  pastors, 

208. 
Rowland,  William  F.,  73,  190. 
Rundlet,  Charles,  80. 
Ruobone,  George,  17,  34. 
Saddlery  and  carriages,  339. 
Sail  cloth,  manufacture  of,  339. 
Saw-mill  privileges  granted,  321, 323. 
Saw-mills,  taxation  of,  165. 
Seminary,  Robinson  female,  291. 
Seward,  Robert,  18,  34,  44,  60. 
Schools    of    Exeter,    285;   early  in- 
structors, 286;  school  districts,  289; 
grading  of,  290. 
Scrivener  (Scribner),  John,  175. 
Ship-building,  336. 
Sinclair,  John,  60. 
Sleeper,  John  S.,  308. 
"  Small    causes,"    commissioners   to 

end,  51. 
Smart,  John,  20,  34,  45,  60,  173. 
Smith,  Edward,  57,  58,  60,  64,  116, 

167. 
Smith,  Jeremiah,  103,  106,  107,  126, 

359. 
Smith,  Robert,  18,  34,  44,  46,  51. 
Smith,  Theophilus,  71,  80,   91,  177, 

181,  182. 
Smith,  William,  364. 
Societies,  426. 

Soldiers,  first  officers  of,  42,  48. 
Soule,  Gideon  L.,  295. 


88 


HISTORY  OF  EXETER. 


Squamscot  patent  4  ;  annexed  to  Exe- 
ter, 120. 

Squamscot  river,  4,  12. 

Stamp  act,  effigies  burned,  78. 

Stanj'on,  Anthony,  19,  34,  45,  51, 
124,  319. 

Stickney,  William  W.,  107,  111, 
374. 

Storre,  Augustine,  8,  9,  17,  19,  35. 

Storrs,  Rev.  George,  206. 

Streets  :  named,  103,  107  ;  lighted, 
110;  126. 

Sullivan,  George,  126,  358. 

Sullivan,  John,  84,  87,  97,  366. 

Swain,  Francis,  60,  160,  161. 

Swamp  land,  clearing  of,  137. 

Swasey,  Joseph,  80,  91. 

Swasey,  Nathaniel,  220  n.  (see  "  Cor- 
rections"). 

Swett,  Samuel  B.,  388. 

Swett,  Simeon,  205. 

Taylor,  William,  61,  160. 

Taxation,  illegal,  of  Cranfield,  re- 
sisted, 66. 

Tedd,  John,  45,  61. 

Temperance  action  of  town.  104,  106, 
108. 

Tenney,  Samuel,  99,  101,  126,  382. 

Thing  family,  392. 

Thing,  Bartholomew,  74,  75,  179. 

Thing,  Benjamin,  71,  76,  181,  182, 
185. 

Thing,  Jonathan,  61,  65,  67,  68,  70, 
116,  lis,  119,  120,  167,  171,  176, 
177,  218. 

Thing,  Samuel,  70,  175,  177. 

Thom,  James,  258,  362. 

Tilton,  Ur.  Joseph,  381. 

Tilton,  Joseph,  Jr.,  104,  107,  198, 
362. 

Timber  trees,  respecting  cutting,  52, 
53. 

Tippen,  Bartholomew,  62. 

Town-house,  109. 

Transcri])ts  of  Exeter  records.  Ap- 
pendix II,  435. 

Trees,  ornamental,  415  ;  oldest  elm, 
415. 

Tuck,  Amos,  370. 

Unitarian  society  and  pastors,  208. 

Universalist  societv  and  pastors.  203. 

Wadleigh,  John,  61,  64,  171. 


Wadleigb,   Jonathan,  75,  120,    174, 

179. 
Wadleigh,   Robert,  61,  64,  68,  171, 

174,  349. 
Walker,  Samuel,  17,  35,  44. 
Walker,  Seth,  395. 
Wall,   James,  8,   18,  36,  45,  50,  51, 

114,  123,  124,  131,  159. 
Walton,  George,  17,  36. 
War  of  1812, 104;  Exeter  soldiers  in, 

257. 
War  for  the  union,  261;  Exeter  sol- 
diers in,  261,  277. 
Warden,  Thomas,  12,  18,  36,  42,  44, 

46. 
Warden,  William,  12,  18,  37. 
Warren,  John,  61,  116,  123. 
Washington,     visit    of,     1 789,    99  ; 

honors  to,  102. 

Water  works,  110. 
Webster,  Nathaniel,  149  (see  "Cor- 
rections"), 181. 
Wedgewood,  John,  53,  61. 
Wehanownowit,  8,  9,  10,  14. 
WeUs,  John  S.,  373. 
Wenbourne,  William,  18,  37,  44,  46. 
Wentworth,    William,    17,    38,   169, 

170. 
Wheelwright,  John.  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9, 

10,  12,  14, 17,  21,  38,  49,  112,  131, 

155,  156,  157. 
"White  Caps,"  the,  411. 
Whitefield,  Rev.    George,  187,  196, 

424. 
Wiggin,  Andrew,  65. 
Wiggin,  Simon,  174,  176,  177. 
Wiggin,  Thomas,  3,  13,  45,  51,  112, 

116,  120,  121,  163,  175. 
Wight,  Thomas,  17,  39,  45. 
Williams,  John  J.,  307. 
Willix.  Balthazar,  40,  45. 
Wilson,  Gowen,  49,  50,  61,  125. 
Wilson.  Humphrey,  45,  61,65,  114, 

125,  159,  171,  174,  325. 
WUson,   Thomas,  4,  17,  40,  42,  48, 

125,  130,  185,  317. 
Winicowet  (Hampton),  13. 
Winthrop,  Gov.  John,  160,  169. 
Wood,  Alva.  375. 
Wool  trade,  340. 
Young,  John,  01,  64,  116,   119,  218, 

220. 


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